Egypt Turns Car Stickers Into Fuel Detectives as Port Said Pilot Targets Smuggling
Egypt is putting digital tracking on its fuel pumps. A pilot that began on Nov. 1 in Port Said will use vehicles’ electronic traffic stickers to follow fuel sales, in a bid to tighten oversight and curb smuggling and the diversion of petroleum products, the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources said on Oct. 31.
The month-long pilot gives vehicle owners who have not yet fitted the stickers time to comply, and lets authorities complete coverage of fuel stations across the governorate. The system was developed with the ministries of interior and of communications and information technology. It will collect and analyse refuelling data to monitor the distribution chain from supply to the end consumer.
The ministry said the system would help authorities spot unusual consumption patterns and strengthen inspections, but would not affect fuel prices or the quantities dispensed to motorists. It said the aim is to improve distribution efficiency while making sure domestic fuel needs continue to be met.
Egypt has been expanding digital oversight of fuel distribution through tanker GPS tracking, automated station-tank measurements and electronic shipment monitoring. The systems aim to detect irregularities, improve inventory management and protect public funds, and inspections have previously uncovered large-scale fuel smuggling.
Source: egyptoil-gas.com
