Kenya Reports Progress Against Fuel Adulteration

Kenya’s Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) is making progress in safeguarding fuel integrity through a technology- driven strategy, according to local news site Citizen Digital.

At the heart of this progress is the Fuel Integrity Solution (FIS), developed in partnership with SICPA Kenya. FIS involves the use of a patented biochemical marker added to petroleum products at the point of entry or distribution. The marker allows for the clear identification of adulterated or diverted fuel throughout the supply chain, and is able to flag even minute levels of tampering.

To ensure widespread coverage and accurate monitoring, EPRA has deployed mobile laboratories equipped with X-ray fluorescence analysers, capable of conducting onsite tests in under five minutes. These portable analysers provide forensic-level analysis, making it difficult for fraudulent operators to escape detection.

SICPA has introduced a digitalised infrastructure that enables the tracking of every marker dose used, including GPS-traced jerrycans and tamperproof seal mechanisms. The data from marking operations is transmitted in real time to a secure, cloud-based platform accessible only to authorised personnel.