New Inspection Standards on Petroleum Products

All petroleum products being imported in the country are set to start undergoing thorough inspection before entering the country by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics.

The move is expected to kick off next week Friday with the aim of doing away with fake oil products that have been going round in the importation and exportation of petroleum oil products in Kenya. The exercise will be carried out by specific appointed KEBS surveyors at the source of the oil products and on their arrival in the country.

The move is also in a bid to improve compliance in the taxation sector and the set up standards by the relevant agencies. This report led to concerns from relevant bodies that there will be increased consumer prices due to the exercise, a concern that has been dismissed by kebs Managing Director Charles Ongwae.

Ongwae stated that the fees will be friendly to the marketers adding that the inspection fee structure is still being worked on together with the marketers. He said that the main reason for that move for the good of the country and not profit oriented.

Currently, only random checks are carried out on preferred oil products by marketers at service stations. The Inspectors charge an average Sh.6-10 tonnes and the cost is passed on to consumers through a pricing formula by that is set out by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC).

Among the commodities expected to be inspected include bulk petroleum products like fuel. The quality of the fuel will be highly considered during the inspection process. there is a guideline that will be used in the whole inspection process which states out the roles of the surveyors and the quality requirements for all petroleum products.

Kebs Managing director went ahead to disclose that oil tanks will be inspected before being loaded so as to determine whether they meet cargo requirements for loading. Loaded and discharged products will also be verified sampled and analyzed to ensure that the y comply to the Kenyan standards or approved specifications.

After all the inspection procedures have been confirmed, successful importers and exporters will be given Certificates of Compliance. Raw materials that have to be processed into finished goods, spare parts for own use by manufacturers and customized machines that are not meant for sale are among the few items that will not have to strictly follow the set rules and regulations.

Article by Vera Shawiza.