Florida authorities have revealed that fuel obtained from CITGO-operated gas stations supplied through the Port of Tampa after 10 a.m. on Saturday is at a high risk of being tainted with diesel contamination. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) conveyed this information via social media, attributing the contamination to human error.
Governor Ron DeSantis mentioned this development during a press briefing addressing Tropical Storm Idalia, which is currently heading towards the southern U.S. coastline and might impact Florida. Governor DeSantis stated that a thorough investigation is currently underway to assess the extent of the fuel contamination.
He clarified that the issue arose due to an inadvertent mistake wherein diesel was mistakenly pumped into tanks designated for regular gasoline. Governor DeSantis explained that while a minor proportion of diesel in a gasoline tank might not cause significant harm to vehicles, a complete tank of diesel could lead to severe problems.
To address the situation, FDACS, under Wilton Simpson’s direction, is working on compiling a list of gas stations that may have inadvertently distributed cross-contaminated fuel. This list will help individuals identify if they’ve refueled at any of these stations.
In case consumers suspect they have purchased contaminated fuel, they are encouraged to file a complaint by reaching out to 1-800-HELP-FLA or by visiting the website fdacs.gov.
According to a spokesperson from CITGO, the company detected tainted product at its Tampa terminal due to a routing error and promptly halted operations. CITGO has contacted all its affiliated marketers who received gasoline and diesel from the terminal between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., requesting them to halt sales.
The impact has been limited to a few retail locations, and CITGO is actively coordinating efforts to remove the contaminated product from these affected outlets. CITGO emphasized its dedication to safe, responsible operations and is conducting a comprehensive inquiry into the incident.
Additionally, CITGO expressed its commitment to maintaining fuel quality and customer trust in its products and brand. For customers who suspect they purchased tainted fuel from August 26 onwards, CITGO has established the Good Gas Guarantee program, allowing them to file claims through the company’s website.
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