The Egyptian General Petroleum Corporation (EGPC) has announced that inspection campaigns conducted from August 9 to 14 on fuel handling and distribution facilities uncovered widespread violations including manipulation of petroleum products and breaches of safety standards. The campaigns resulted in fines exceeding 30 million Egyptian pounds and legal action against offenders. A fuel station in Alam El-Roum, Marsa Matrouh, was found to have manipulated 625,000 litres of diesel, 80-octane, and 92-octane petrol, and was fined about 18.7 million Egyptian pounds. Similar violations were detected in Alexandria, Giza, Qalyubia, and Sohag, involving 393,000 litres of diesel and petrol, with fines reaching 11.8 million Egyptian pounds. Legal actions were also taken against a tanker and pickup truck driver caught attempting illegal trading of petroleum products in Bakos, Alexandria, and Marsa Matrouh. In Abu Hummus, Beheira, an unlicensed roadside pump was dismantled, its products confiscated, and the owner of the supplying station apprehended. In Monufia, investigations into citizens' complaints revealed tampering with pump nozzles at several fuel stations, prompting legal action. In Suez, inspectors uncovered serious safety violations at a depot housing 14 petroleum tanks, including extensive leaks, hazardous spills, faulty meters, absence of firefighting and alarm systems, and accumulation of flammable waste. Two butane storage facilities were also found in residential areas of Suez, lacking essential safety requirements such as fire extinguishers, cooling systems, and water supplies, as well as defective cylinders without safety valves. The responsible company was ordered to take immediate corrective measures. The campaigns further reviewed 31 fuel stations across governorates, with some failing to meet safe operating standards. Marketing companies were instructed to take corrective steps, while training programmes were introduced for fuel room officials in Delta governorates to strengthen monitoring and inspection of distribution outlets. Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English Subediting: M. S. Salama
