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Rogue fuel traced to depot tanks | Rogue fuel traced to depot tanks |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Contaminated unleaded petrol blamed for causing thousands of cars to break down has been traced to a depot in Essex, a supplier has said. | Contaminated unleaded petrol blamed for causing thousands of cars to break down has been traced to a depot in Essex, a supplier has said. |
Harvest Energy said "unusually high levels of silicon" were found in four storage tanks at the Vopak site. | Harvest Energy said "unusually high levels of silicon" were found in four storage tanks at the Vopak site. |
It had not been detected before sale at retailers including supermarkets Tesco and Morrisons because routine tests did not look for the substance. | It had not been detected before sale at retailers including supermarkets Tesco and Morrisons because routine tests did not look for the substance. |
One industry group said the incident could force prices up by 2p a litre. | One industry group said the incident could force prices up by 2p a litre. |
The faulty unleaded petrol has been blamed for damaging thousands of cars in south-east England. | The faulty unleaded petrol has been blamed for damaging thousands of cars in south-east England. |
More than 5,000 people have contacted the BBC to say they have been affected. | More than 5,000 people have contacted the BBC to say they have been affected. |
Harvest Energy shares tank facilities at the depot in West Thurrock with independent oil company Greenergy, which supplies both Tesco and Morrisons. | Harvest Energy shares tank facilities at the depot in West Thurrock with independent oil company Greenergy, which supplies both Tesco and Morrisons. |
In a statement, Greenergy said a component understood to have been used by Harvest Energy in the production of unleaded petrol had tested positive for excess levels of silicon. | In a statement, Greenergy said a component understood to have been used by Harvest Energy in the production of unleaded petrol had tested positive for excess levels of silicon. |
Morrisons has stopped selling unleaded fuel at 41 outlets supplied by the depot until tests are complete. | Morrisons has stopped selling unleaded fuel at 41 outlets supplied by the depot until tests are complete. |
SILICON & SILICONE Silicon is a chemical element - symbol 'Si' Silicone is a chemical compound containing silicon and oxygenSilicone can take solid or liquid form and is used as a lubricant and insulator When silicon is found by tests on petrol it may indicate the presence of silicone | SILICON & SILICONE Silicon is a chemical element - symbol 'Si' Silicone is a chemical compound containing silicon and oxygenSilicone can take solid or liquid form and is used as a lubricant and insulator When silicon is found by tests on petrol it may indicate the presence of silicone |
Tesco said it is to empty its unleaded tanks at 150 outlets in the south east but would refill them with uncontaminated fuel and continue sales. | Tesco said it is to empty its unleaded tanks at 150 outlets in the south east but would refill them with uncontaminated fuel and continue sales. |
Asda, which buys fuel from Harvest Energy, said it was to replace unleaded petrol at 30 forecourts in the south east supplied from the affected depot as a "precautionary measure". | Asda, which buys fuel from Harvest Energy, said it was to replace unleaded petrol at 30 forecourts in the south east supplied from the affected depot as a "precautionary measure". |
Harvest Energy said it could guarantee no further contaminated petrol would be distributed. | Harvest Energy said it could guarantee no further contaminated petrol would be distributed. |
An independent inspection company would be testing fuel stocks at more than 100 petrol stations. | An independent inspection company would be testing fuel stocks at more than 100 petrol stations. |
"We are working as closely as we can with our customers the retailers, to address such motorists' concerns," said Harvest Energy's managing director Franco Bussandri. | "We are working as closely as we can with our customers the retailers, to address such motorists' concerns," said Harvest Energy's managing director Franco Bussandri. |
"We would ask motorists who feel they may have been affected to contact their fuel retailer for advice." | "We would ask motorists who feel they may have been affected to contact their fuel retailer for advice." |
HAVE YOUR SAY The consumer has to foot the bill but this time it's not even their fault Mike Stern, London class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5703&edition=1&ttl=20070228174332">Send us your comments Ray Holloway, from the Petrol Retailers Association, told BBC News 24 prices on the oil markets could be affected. | |
"They look for those opportunities and the price goes up so motorists across the UK everywhere, not just in the south-east corner, they'll end up paying probably one to two pence more per litre in the next week." | "They look for those opportunities and the price goes up so motorists across the UK everywhere, not just in the south-east corner, they'll end up paying probably one to two pence more per litre in the next week." |