Author: Renato Fonseca

Source: Today in Day - MG - ECONOMY - 04/09/2009

Renato Fonseca
news reporter

The number of frauds at fuel pumps at stations in Minas Gerais, until August this year, has already reached 1.289 - 68% of the total registered in 2008, as revealed by the Minas Gerais Institute of Weights and Measures (Ipem / MG). The data shows that the population is at the mercy of the criminal action of these fraudsters, who, according to experts, use increasingly advanced technologies to circumvent the law.

 
Among the most common frauds is adulteration through the improper addition of alcohol, water or solvent to the fuel. Another serious problem is the so-called reversing valve - an electronic mechanism that alternates the supply of pumps between two fuel tanks: an adulterated and a common one.

In order not to fall into traps, the consumer has the right, in case of doubt, to require the gas station to test the cylinder - which proves the amount of alcohol in gasoline. The evaluation takes about 15 minutes. Other ways to prevent it are to always fill the vehicle at the same station, be wary of very low prices and check if there are any seals on the pumps. The consumer should also check if there is an IPem inspection seal showing if there is a license to operate.

For the general director of Ipem-MG, Tadeu Mendonça, only an efficient inspection, integrated with several agencies can end the irregularities. In addition to the pump problems, he talked about tank truck fraud. Until August this year, 1.518 inspections were made and 180 vehicles were assessed.

The president of the Minas Gerais Petroleum Derivatives Trade Union (Minaspetro), Sergio Mattos, recognizes the difficulties in controlling fraud and said that the union has sought help to contain the adulterations. "We are just the class body, what we can do is demand more supervision from the responsible sectors", he said.

In addition to Ipem / MG, Cetec and UFMG also inspect the state. All stations are monitored at least once a year. Fraudsters can receive anything from a simple warning and a fine to the loss of the license to operate.
To try to prevent more consumers from being harmed, a seminar is held in Belo Horizonte on the prevention and identification of these frauds. The Ipem / MG initiative brings together station owners, distributors and inspection bodies. The lectures and discussions, started yesterday, continue today at the Technological Center of Minas Gerais (Cetec).