Contaminated fuel supplied to petrol station

Enemalta Corporation was yesterday ordered to pay over Lm2,000 to the owners of a petrol station after it was found to have supplied contaminated fuel.

Magistrate Michael Mallia delivered this judgment following action taken by Constantino and Vincenza Abela, owners of Abela Service Station, in Lija.

The court heard that in June 2000, the Abelas had bought a consignment of lead free petrol from Enemalta. However, a few days after they had sold the fuel to a number of clients, they had started to receive complaints about the petrol.

Enemalta inspectors had carried out tests, which were inconclusive. Samples of the fuel were then examined at the university laboratory and it resulted that the fuel had been contaminated with 34 per cent diesel.

Enemalta had accepted the test results and had issued a credit note in favour of the Abelas for Lm8,539. But the Abelas did not accept this compensation as they claimed they had paid for lead free petrol which was worth Lm9,998.

The court heard that the Abelas had suffered damages amounting to Lm979, and that they were also owed the sum of Lm1,459 being the difference in value between the lead free petrol they had purchased and the credit note issued by Enemalta.

In conclusion, the court ordered Enemalta to pay the Abelas Lm2,438 in damages.