2007 UK petrol contamination

The 2007 UK petrol contamination problem arose on 28 February 2007 when motorists in South East England reported that their cars were breaking down. This was caused by silicon-contaminated unleaded petrol, sold by several supermarkets, that damaged the oxygen sensors in engine management systems.

The problem

On 28 February 2007 motorists in South East England reported that their cars were breaking down. Motorists blamed supermarket petrol with most of the fuel sold by the supermarkets in the South East coming from the Vopak terminal in the Thames Estuary. Harvest Energy, who supplies Asda, [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/transport/Story/0,,2025732,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=1 "Supermarkets withdraw fuel over silicon"] , The Guardian, 3 March 2007] shares tank facilities at the depot in West Thurrock with another oil company, Greenergy, [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/28/nfuel128.xml "Thousands of drivers 'sold suspect petrol'"] , David Millward, Daily Telegraph, 1 March 2007] who are part-owned by Tesco and supplies both Tesco and Morrisons. [ [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/03/02/nfuel02.xml "The great petrol mystery splutters on"] , David Derbyshire, Daily Telegraph, 2 March 2007]

Then on the evening of 2 March scientists who had been testing the petrol reported finding traces of silicon in the fuel [ [http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2007-03-02T192340Z_01_L02374287_RTRIDST_0_TESCO-FUEL-UPDATE-3.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna "UK petrol probe finds silicon in fuel"] , Reuters, 2 March 2007] which were subsequently tracked down to four storage tanks by Harvest Energy. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6414905.stm "Rogue fuel traced to depot tanks"] , BBC News, 3 March 2007]

Morrisons immediately announced that it was to stop selling unleaded petrol at 41 outlets supplied by the Vopak terminal while Tesco was emptying and refilling tanks at 150 petrol stations but was not suspending sales. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6413357.stm "Firms curb supplies in fuel scare"] , BBC News, 2 March 2007] The following day Asda said it was replacing unleaded petrol at the 30 forecourts in the South East as a "precautionary measure". [ [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23387553-details/Stores+withdraw+fuel+after+silicon+found/article.do "Petrol contamination traced to four tanks"] , Evening Standard, 3 March 2007]

By Sunday, 4 March, tests from Tesco and Asda had found contamination of silicon in unleaded fuel. [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2026304,00.html "Fuel damage drivers set for legal fight"] , The Guardian, 4 March 2007]

The cause

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it believed suspect fuel might have damaged oxygen sensors in some cars' systems, leading them to cut power to prevent damage to the engine. [ [http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-03-01T235612Z_01_L28173267_RTRUKOC_0_UK-TESCO-FUEL.xml "No sign of petrol contamination"] , Reuters, 1 March 2007] Silicon products are used as 'anti-foaming agents' in diesel fuel, but even very small quantities can cause serious problems in petrol engines. [ [http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/transport/article2323460.ece "Silicon found to be rogue element in petrol"] , Barrie Clement, The Independent, 3 March 2007]

Consequences

Tesco has been criticised with claims that they had been alerted to the problem as early as 12 February. Affected motorists are facing bills of several hundred pounds to repair their cars and, with up to 10,000 cars needing repair, the suppliers could be liable for compensation claims of up to £10 million. [ [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23387496-details/Rogue+fuel+'cover+up'+could+cost+stores+up+to+%C2%A310m/article.do "Rogue fuel 'cover up' could cost stores up to £10m"] , Evening Standard, 2 March 2007] On 4 March it was announced that a class action, on behalf of affected motorists, would be mounted.

Trading Standards officials have advised motorists to keep petrol receipts, take a sample of the fuel, obtain quotes from garages for repair costs and approach the petrol station where the fuel was purchased. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2024274,00.html "Q&A: Contaminated petrol"] , The Guardian, 1 March 2007] Then, on 6 March, Morrisons and Tesco offered to pay for any damage caused by the faulty petrol and Tesco printed full page apologies in many national newspapers. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6421783.stm "Retailers offer car repair refund"] , BBC News, 6 March 2007]

A further consequence has been a rise in petrol prices charged by traditional petrol companies, of up to 4p per litre, across the country. An AA spokesman said "Putting up prices to make a fast buck is completely unjustified. Sometimes garages increase the price to protect stocks from a sudden run. But if anyone has upped the price outside the areas where the problems have been then they are milking the system.". However, the UK Petroleum Industry Association replied "There is no profiteering. Oil products are priced to the market. Pump prices are usually linked to the price of crude oil or the wholesale price of petrol.". [ [http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23387671-details/The+petrol+profiteers/article.do "The petrol profiteers"] , Evening Standard, 4 March 2007]

References