ISLAMABAD: The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) said on Thursday it will investigate a complaint that fuel suppliers, including local subsidiaries of Shell and Total as well as Pakistan State Oil (PSO), have added manganese to their gasoline.
Honda Motor Co’s Pakistan subsidiary, Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited, filed the complaint, saying the harmful additive appeared to be damaging the engines in its vehicles.
Manganese can be added to fuel to make it appear to be of a higher quality, but it can reduce fuel economy as well as potentially harm public health due to emissions.
“We have received a complaint from Honda, and the relevant department will look into the issue,” said Imran Ghaznavi, a spokesperson for the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA).
The Honda complaint, a copy of which was reviewed by Reuters, said tests had found dangerous levels of manganese in fuel samples from Shell Pakistan Limited, Total Parco Pakistan Limited, and Pakistan State Oil Company Limited.
The tests showed levels of manganese of up to 53 milligrams per kilogramme (mg/kg), while the additive is deemed at a “danger level” at 24 mg/kg, the Honda complaint said.
Representatives for the individual fuel suppliers and for Honda could not be immediately reached for comment.
Ilyas Fazil, head of Pakistan’s Oil Companies Advisory Council, said on Thursday that he had not heard of manganese additives being a problem in the industry.
PSX's benchmark KSE-100 index on Friday closed at 145,382.79 points after a drop of 264.34 points or 0.18%
Warn that cost of additional US tariffs risked making businesses "not viable"
Nepra forwards decision to federal government for final notification
Commerce minister dispels impression that Pakistan's exports will take a hit of $1bn due to 19% import duty
KSE-100 Index settles at 145,647.13 points, up 558.64 points, or 0.39%
Indian goods imported into US shall be subject to additional AD Valorem rate of duty of 25%
