Seypec improves storage policy at petrol stations |16 July 2018

• Lead Replacement Fuel (LRF) to be phased out

The Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec) has announced that effective July 2018, Lead Replacement Fuel (LRF) (Bennzin rouz) will be gradually phased out at all service stations across Mahé resulting in greater and better storage capacity for petrol stations across the islands.

The move has both an operational and environmental rationale behind it and is in line with the on-going move by Seypec for a better environment friendly energy policy. The phasing out of the LRF product which has already been completed on Praslin in March this year, will liberate more storage space both at the service stations on Mahé and at the Seypec depot for better stock management of fast moving products.

To note that La Digue does not sell lead replacement fuel.

Sarah Romain, Seypec’s  general manager for commercial says: “In fact Seypec has since 2010 eradicated leaded fuel across its outlets and introduced LRF then. This phase of now eradicating LRF is a final stage in promoting a better quality of fuel for our customers.”

The gradual phasing out of the LRF product on Mahé has already been done at the Baie Lazare service station to be followed by Anse Royale and all other stations across the island. The exercise is expected to be completed nationwide by end August 2018 and is not expected to cause any disruptions to the day to day operations of the stations.

Over the years, Seypec has been supplying the domestic market with both Unleaded and Lead Replacement Motor Gasoline in order to cater for the different engines on the road. However, the volume of LRF or bennzin rouz being sold in Seychelles has been on a steady decline over the years, and presently represents an ever decreasing figure of less than 10% of the sales of motor gasoline.

The LRF has an additive known as ‘valvemaster’ added to it to replace the lead. It is mainly used for older engines fitted with soft exhaust valve seats which require lubrication so that the insides of the engine are protected from recession. Currently Seypec adds the ‘valvemaster’ additive to the unleaded motor gasoline so that customers can use it as LRF. However, given that the consumption of the product has drastically reduced, Seypec will no longer be dispensing LRF from the pumps.

Customers who still require the LRF product, will be provided with the ‘valvemaster’ additive which will be available in 100ml capacity containers. Customers will only need to add the ‘valvemaster’ directly to their fuel tank with a simple dosage of 1 ML per litre of Unleaded fuel (bennzin ver). This product will be available free of charge at all service stations for customers who would still require the lead replacement fuel.

In addition, Seypec is supplying an information leaflet to assist any user in this change process.