More than 7,000 litres of fuel have been seized in Bertoua, the East regional capital, as part of the government’s fight against illicit fuel.
The Minister of Water and Energy, Gaston Eloundou Essoma, who was in Bertoua last weekend, warned sellers of illicit fuel to desist from the practice.
The 7,000 litres of petrol were seized during an operation the Ministry conducted in collaboration with the forces of law and order in Bertoua.
The aim of the operation, according to the ministry, was to ensure the safety of the people and the environment.
“The mission aimed to tackle the pressing issue of adulterated fuel, which poses serious risks to public safety and environmental health,” the water and energy ministry wrote in a statement.
This operation came barely two weeks after an illicit fuel storage facility exploded in Tombel, South West Region, inflicting huge damages on local residents.
The Energy Ministry noted that illicit fuel trade has been recurrent, and it was high time authorities cracked down on it.
“This haul underscores the extent of the problem and the urgency of addressing it. Adulterated fuel, typically mixed with various substances to increase volume and profit margins, not only damages vehicle engines but also poses severe risks of fire and explosions,” Minister Eloundou Essomba said.
While stating the dangers of adulterated fuel, the Minister recalled the Tombel incident where houses, vehicles and other property got burnt by a fuel explosion.
“The presence of such volatile substances in residential areas is a recipe for disaster, as evidenced by this unfortunate event,” he said, adding that the fire incident in Tombel underscores the need for stringent enforcement against adulterated fuel trafficking.
“Storing fuel in domestic settings, especially when it has been tampered with, dramatically increases the likelihood of catastrophic accidents. Beyond the direct dangers to property and lives, adulterated fuel also harms vehicles, engines, and the environment.”
The Ministry outlined that the seizure has sent a clear message to those wanting to continue in the business.
Illicit activities related to fuel, the Ministry said, will not be tolerated hence.
It said the recent operation in Bertoua is a crucial step towards safeguarding communities and ensuring compliance with safety standards in the fuel industry.
By cracking down on adulterated fuel, authorities aim to protect citizens from the dangers posed by this illegal trade and to preserve the integrity of the fuel supply chain.
Aside from just moving and confiscating fuel, the Minister said more effort still needs to be put in place to combat the underground trade effectively.
“This includes ongoing monitoring, stricter enforcement measures, and public awareness campaigns to educate consumers about the risks associated with using adulterated fuel. Collaboration between law enforcement agencies, regulatory bodies, and community stakeholders is essential to rooting out this hazardous practice.”
Recently, government Ministries have been taking decisive actions to protect consumers from problems that could have long been prevented.
Apart from the Ministry of Water and Energy, the Ministry of Trade has been on a seizure spree as well.
The Trade Ministry recently confiscated 5,000 and 3,000 bags of rice in Yaounde and Bafoussam, respectively.
The operation was done owing to price manipulation aimed at exploiting consumers by the sellers.
Aside from that, it also shut down a gas fabrication plant in Yaounde. The company was tempering with the quantity of cooking gas, yet it was selling at exorbitant prices.
The challenge with these actions is that they are usually sporadic and unsustained. Cameroonians remain worried about the quality of products which are being allowed to flourish in the local market, despite the existence of laws that regulate trade and protect consumers.
©Mimi Mefo Info
