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| Fuel depot probes 'contamination' | Fuel depot probes 'contamination' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| An Essex depot allegedly linked with the "contaminated" fuel said to have damaged car engines is investigating whether it is to blame for the problem. | |
| Vopak Terminals says checks are being made to make sure normal handling and storage procedures have been followed. | |
| Meanwhile, an AA source told the BBC traces of silicon have been found in petrol taken from the cars. | Meanwhile, an AA source told the BBC traces of silicon have been found in petrol taken from the cars. |
| Thousands of drivers have complained their cars were damaged after they used petrol from supermarket forecourts. | Thousands of drivers have complained their cars were damaged after they used petrol from supermarket forecourts. |
| Tesco said the problems appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south east of England served by a site in Essex. | Tesco said the problems appeared to be linked to forecourts in the south east of England served by a site in Essex. |
| Both Tesco and Morrisons get fuel from an independent oil company called Greenergy, which insists its supplies meet industry standards. | Both Tesco and Morrisons get fuel from an independent oil company called Greenergy, which insists its supplies meet industry standards. |
| I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before Ray Holloway,Petrol Retailers Association Mr Holloway interview | I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before Ray Holloway,Petrol Retailers Association Mr Holloway interview |
| A major Greenergy storage depot is run by distribution firm Vopak on the River Thames at West Thurrock, Grays, Essex. | A major Greenergy storage depot is run by distribution firm Vopak on the River Thames at West Thurrock, Grays, Essex. |
| Colin Scott, Vopak Terminals managing director, said checks were being made to make sure normal handling and storage procedures have been followed. | Colin Scott, Vopak Terminals managing director, said checks were being made to make sure normal handling and storage procedures have been followed. |
| "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." | "Verifications are continuing. At this moment we have not established any deviation from normal procedures." |
| The AA source said tests carried out by the petroleum industry had revealed traces of silicon in suspect fuel. The substance should not be in unleaded petrol. | The AA source said tests carried out by the petroleum industry had revealed traces of silicon in suspect fuel. The substance should not be in unleaded petrol. |
| 'Faulty' fuel locations | 'Faulty' fuel locations |
| It is thought silicon may have found its way into a batch of petrol in transit by ship into the UK or in storage containers. | It is thought silicon may have found its way into a batch of petrol in transit by ship into the UK or in storage containers. |
| Trading standards officials said their tests on the suspect fuel may be available on Friday. | Trading standards officials said their tests on the suspect fuel may be available on Friday. |
| The Trading Standards Institute said samples of unleaded petrol had been taken from station forecourts in Cambridgeshire, Kent, south Essex and Milton Keynes. | The Trading Standards Institute said samples of unleaded petrol had been taken from station forecourts in Cambridgeshire, Kent, south Essex and Milton Keynes. |
| A spokeswoman said spot checks were also being undertaken by local authority trading standards teams in other parts of the country. | A spokeswoman said spot checks were also being undertaken by local authority trading standards teams in other parts of the country. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered | HAVE YOUR SAY One of these stations had strange additives in their fuel Michael Gibson, West Byfleet Send us your comments Petrol questions answered |
| Tests on fuel supplied by Tesco, Morrisons and Asda have so far not revealed any problems, the supermarkets have said. | Tests on fuel supplied by Tesco, Morrisons and Asda have so far not revealed any problems, the supermarkets have said. |
| The penalty for supplying fuel which does not meet industry standards is a £5,000 fine. | The penalty for supplying fuel which does not meet industry standards is a £5,000 fine. |
| The BBC has received more than 3,500 e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. | The BBC has received more than 3,500 e-mails from motorists who say their vehicles have juddered, misfired and suffered a loss of power. |
| Most came from an area covering London and parts of east and south-east England and many reported buying petrol from forecourts at supermarkets. | Most came from an area covering London and parts of east and south-east England and many reported buying petrol from forecourts at supermarkets. |
| But problems have also been reported by motorists in other areas including Aberdeen, Manchester, Newcastle and Preston. | But problems have also been reported by motorists in other areas including Aberdeen, Manchester, Newcastle and Preston. |
| The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said motorists affected by contaminated petrol should be able to claim if they have comprehensive cover. | The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said motorists affected by contaminated petrol should be able to claim if they have comprehensive cover. |
| Repair bills | Repair bills |
| The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors in vehicles. | The problems seem to be centred on oxygen sensors in vehicles. |
| The sensors are attached to the exhaust and determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. | The sensors are attached to the exhaust and determine the mix of oxygen and petrol supplied to the engine. |
| Garages are running out of replacement parts in some areas as they are swamped with motorists. Repair bills are topping £1,000 for some drivers. | Garages are running out of replacement parts in some areas as they are swamped with motorists. Repair bills are topping £1,000 for some drivers. |
| This seems to point at a fairly localised batch of fuel Petroleum Industry Association How fuel can be contaminated | This seems to point at a fairly localised batch of fuel Petroleum Industry Association How fuel can be contaminated |
| The UK Petroleum Industry Association said the problem could have arisen because of the way a single batch of fuel was blended or stored, and that petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. | The UK Petroleum Industry Association said the problem could have arisen because of the way a single batch of fuel was blended or stored, and that petrol across the UK was generally not faulty. |
| Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said garages had told him the problems may have been around for a week, so the exact cause might not be found. | Ray Holloway, of the Petrol Retailers Association, said garages had told him the problems may have been around for a week, so the exact cause might not be found. |
| "I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before, and therefore to give you a cause is very difficult at this stage." | "I've been in this industry for over 30 years and I don't remember anything like this happening before, and therefore to give you a cause is very difficult at this stage." |