http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Sta ... 84151.htmlA service station in Fyzabad has been shut down pending an investigation into allegations that a low-density mixture of fuel was being pumped into customers' vehicles, which can lead to engine malfunction.
And Ministry of Energy officials have discovered an alleged fuel blending plant hidden behind a bar in South Oropouche.
The owner of the service station has been accused of illegally mixing the fuel with condensate and selling it to customers.
Illegal diesel tanks and piping were also seized from the service station.
Ministry officials have sent an e-mail to National Petroleum (NP) Limited chief executive officer Neil Gosine, stating that they have reason to believe that road tanker wagons were delivering condensate to the owners of a service station in Fyzabad as well as another service station in San Fernando.
The senior Ministry officials have expressed concern that there may be other illegal blending plants in the country.
The Express learned that ministry officials have been monitoring the service station since Wednesday.
Officials said they found it suspicious that the door to the washroom was padlocked and workers were reluctant to open it.
Storage containers, pipelines and black market diesel for resale were allegedly discovered on the premises.
Ministry officials said the condensate allegedly found would be tested at NP's laboratory.
The results will determine whether the service station will be shut down indefinitely.
"When half-litre of condensate is mixed with half-litre of gasolene it will stretch the gas, but the colour and smell would remain the same," the Express was told.
The Express was told that condensate is used to stretch premium and super gasoline.
But the "cheap" fuel can cause mechanical malfunctions in vehicles, it was learned.
A report on the findings was sent to Minister of Energy Kevin Ramnarine. Ministry officials have also searched another service station in San Fernando, suspected of selling condensate fuel to customers.
