Esso under probe in Guangdong

An investigation has been launched into Esso, whose parent company is petroleum giant ExxonMobil, after accusations that its petrol stations in China’s southern Guangdong province are selling substandard petrol that causes cars to malfunction. Li Xiangming, deputy director-general of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of Economy and Information Industry had suggested that all Esso petrol stations close temporarily for self-inspection. However, after suspending operations for a day for self-inspection, all the 18 Esso stations in Guangdong province resumed business. Zheng Yuqing, press spokesperson for ExxonMobil in Guangdong, said Esso products have no problems. (January 29, 2010)