Source: Sindicombustíveis-AL - Maceió / AL - 27/08/2010

The State of Maranhão

A Petrobras gas station, located on Avenida Jerônimo de Albuquerque, in Angelim, had all its fuel pumps sealed by the National Petroleum Agency (ANP). The post is owned by Atacadão Makro and, according to information from the ANP press office, it was selling diesel outside the required quality standards and had filling nozzles with calibration problems, that is, low pump.

ANP technicians carried out the inspection on Wednesday afternoon and found a cloudy appearance in diesel. Pump nozzles at the gas station would also be registering a quantity of fuel above what was actually placed in the vehicles tank, which resulted in the seal of the machines.

In a note, Atacadão Makro stated that the company follows all legal guidelines and guidelines defined by the ANP and other competent authorities in the maintenance and administration of its gas stations. He also informed that any irregularities found in the marketed products are evaluated and, if found, are corrected immediately.

The Makro São Luís gas station has been operating since 2000 and exclusively supplies fuel from the BR distributor and, according to Makro, with the supplier's quality assurance. It is a very popular post, especially on weekends when it sells fuels at very competitive prices in relation to the other establishments located in that area.

Consumers who tried to refuel the vehicle yesterday expressed curiosity to know what had happened to have the seal of the pumps. But now I am already suspicious of the risk of adulteration and of being injured in the amount of fuel ”, said taxi driver Mário César Diniz.

Inspection - The ANP action is part of an inspection that has been taking place since the 16th of this month, in 40 municipalities in Mararnhão, with 11 inspectors in the field. According to the agency, 274 service agents, distributors, among other establishments, were inspected. Six were banned because they did not present the quality standard in the products and eight supply nozzles were banned due to gauging problems, low pump, including the Makra post. The ANP has not yet been able to say what the other five establishments are and where they are. An inspection report is still being produced.