Alert at Petrol Stations: The Risk of Refuelling with Adulterated Fuel and Solutions to Avoid It

Petrol prices, a daily necessity for most Spaniards, continue to be a headache due to their constant upward fluctuations. In the search for cheaper refuelling options, many drivers turn to petrol stations whose fuel origin is questionable.

The recent news of a service station in Alaquàs (Valencia) supplying petrol adulterated with water, causing severe damage to over 50 vehicles, highlights a real and concerning issue.

The fraudulent practice of adulterating fuel, whether with water, tar, oil, or other substances, or selling fuel of illicit origin (from tapped pipelines or smuggling) without paying taxes, not only damages engines but can also lead to increased pollution.

Fabián Torres, Business Development Director at SICPA Spain, warns that unsupervised fuel can have negative consequences for both the vehicle and the environment.

In response to this issue, the multinational company SICPA, a leader in anti-fraud solutions, has developed technology to combat fuel counterfeiting. Their system monitors fuel distribution to petrol stations, allowing for the identification of suspicious movements and barrels that deviate from legal routes. Additionally, they have portable laboratories capable of conducting on-site fuel reliability tests at service stations.

"To prevent fraud, we use molecules called 'markers' that are introduced in parts per million proportions in pipelines, tanker trucks, or 'jumbo-tanks'," explains Fabián Torres. These invisible, odourless, and irreplaceable markers are adapted to all types of hydrocarbons and do not harm the engine or the environment. Thanks to portable laboratories, SICPA can analyse fuel samples in just two minutes, detecting whether it is diesel, tar, other substances, or 100% petrol.

Fuel trade scams are a widespread reality in Spain. Torres points out practices such as "bunkering" (illegal refilling of tanks at sea) and pipeline "tapping" to obtain smuggled fuel. Another common fraud is the misuse of subsidised fuels, such as agricultural diesel, instead of conventional fuel. SICPA's technology, with differentiated markers, allows for the rapid detection of such irregularities.

The tool developed by SICPA is presented as an effective solution to combat tax fraud and the illicit fuel trade, especially in a context of rising prices that incentivise fraudulent practices. "The more expensive the product, the greater the profit for fraudsters, especially in products with high tax rates," emphasises Fabián Torres. SICPA's proposal aims to put an end to these practices and protect both consumers and the legal fuel sector.