The Energy Regulation Board (ERB) has established that 70 percent of the 186 service stations throughout Zambia dispense sub-standard fuel, Zambia Daily Mail reported Monday.

The recent inspection tours by ERB of the service stations further founded serious non-compliance to standards, thus compromising the safety of the general public, said the newspaper.

The fuel samples collected from the fourth quarter of 2005 and this year showed an increase in the proportion of out-of- specification fuel on the market.

Fossil fuels engineer Allen Polito was quoted as saying that the ERB made the investigations to determine the reasons for the drop in the quality of fuels.

Out of 56 diesel samples collected at different service stations in February this year, 50 failed the tests.

In the exercise in March this year, 17 out of 20 samples from different service stations again failed to meet the set standards for product.

He urged the oil marketing companies to ensure quality standard are maintained.

He also said that the infrastructure at most service stations are sub-standard and the service stations display disused fire extinguishers while most of the fuel attendants are not trained in fire fighting.

At most service stations the ERB inspection teams noted poor electrical installations and modification contrary to approved standards.

Most service stations do not have oil interceptors while product handling is leading to unnecessary spills in filter boxes.

Polito expressed worry that service stations being potential hazardous work places, disasters could easily occur if safety standards are not observed.

ERB will continue to work with the law enforcement agencies to ensure that safety standards are maintained in the petroleum industry of the country, Polito said.

Source: Xinhua