The head of the Syndicate of Gas Station Owners in Lebanon, Georges Al-Barakas, denied the validity of the reports circulating about the low quality of gasoline imported into the country or its evaporation at an abnormal speed, stressing that all shipments are subject to a series of precise checks before they are allowed to be unloaded into the local markets.
In statements to the “Lebanon 24” website, Al-Barakas explained that what is said about students at the American University conducting tests that proved the presence of hypothetical vinegar in gasoline is untrue, as no official statement or report has been issued by the university in this regard, pointing out that results like this, if true, would have been officially announced. He added that tests conducted by unapproved methods may give readings that do not reflect the true octane percentage, stressing that the claim that gasoline evaporates at higher rates the higher the octane percentage. The octane in it is “incorrect”.
Regarding control mechanisms, Al-Barakas stressed that any fuel ship anchored in Lebanese ports is prohibited from unloading its cargo without prior permission from the General Directorate of Oil, which in turn is not granted except after samples are drawn and tested to ensure that they conform to the specifications approved in Lebanon.
He explained that the oversight process is characterized by the multiplicity of parties concerned with it. The importing company appoints an auditing company, and the Ministry of Energy assigns a special monitoring body, in addition to another company appointed by the supplying party. He also pointed out that the bank credit to pay for the shipment is not disbursed until it is fully certain that it fulfills all conditions.
Citing the strictness of oversight, Al-Barax pointed to an incident that occurred about two months ago, when the Minister of Energy refused to grant permission to unload two ships – despite the severe gasoline shortage at the time – after laboratory tests showed that the sulfur percentage in them reached 16 parts per million, exceeding the maximum permissible limit of 10 parts per million.
Al-Barakas concluded by stressing that the allegations raised about the presence of adulterated or non-compliant fuel in the Lebanese market are absolutely unfounded.
