Oil magnate and Chairman of Forte Oil Plc, Femi Otedola, has
alleged that the frequent substitution of jet fuel with household
kerosene (HHK) might be responsible for the recent air crashes
witnessed in the country. In a letter he wrote to the Federal
government, Otedola said this recent trend by some unscrupulous
oil marketers is responsible for the rising cost of kerosene.
According to Otedola, because House Hold Kerosene shares some
physical and chemical properties with Jet A1 fuel, fraudulent oil
marketers are selling HHK as Jet A1 to unsuspecting international
and local airline at the international market price which may be as
high as N140/litre..
“The sale of HHK as substitute for Jet A1 fuel by some
petroleum marketers to airlines is a rising trend that needs
to be curbed.” Otedola in his letter said this new illicit trend
has led to the influx of greedy oil marketers who are just
after profit making. He said most of the marketers have no
storage facilities for proper handling of petroleum products
which are highly sensitive and susceptible to
contamination. “The proper care and handling of ATK is
paramount in maintaining safe aircraft operations. One of
the requirements that operators with high safety standards
try to ensure is that their fuel is free from contamination.
Contaminated fuel can cause significant damage to the
aircraft and engine. Damage can range from fuel system
corrosion, clogging of fuel filtration components, failure of
aircraft fuel system instrumentation, and even stopping the
fuel supply to the engines during flight. But with proper
handling procedures in place, fuel contamination capable
of causing problems to the aircraft can be eliminated.
Based on the foregoing, it is pertinent that the
unwholesome activities of these mushroom operators be
curbed in order to ensure the highest levels of safety and
global best practice in the aviation industry in Nigeria,” he
said.
Source: Leadership
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