IOC brings down fuel adulteration cases by 80%

Indian Oil Corp. (IOC) has gone high tech to check the menace of fuel adulteration. Its first step of installing automated electronic fuel monitoring systems in its petrol bunks, as well as its tankers has brought down the number of cases of fuel adulteration in the city by about 80% over the last two years, claim IOC officials. Adulteration generally happens at two points: at the transportation level and at petrol bunks. In a bid to first check adulteration at the transportation level, IOC introduced tamper-proof locking systems on tankers. Until five years ago, these tankers were closed with lead seals that could be tampered. IOC’s tamper-proof locks consist of a combination that can neither be duplicated nor opened with anything other than keys held by the dealer and the petrol bunk. The petrol tankers are also monitored through General Packet Radio Services (GPRS) to check any deviation in their routes. With this checks in place, IOC has now shifted its focus to retail outlets and is in the process of installing automation systems there. Also, IOC has terminated dealership agreements with guilty bunk owners, thus creating a sense of fear among retailers. (July 30, 2009)