Fuel Smuggling Reaches Crisis Point in Greece

Greece’s Finance Ministry have confirmed that the annual loss of money for fuel smuggling is €600m after a meeting about the issue this week.

The government have already tried to tackle this issue through the decision to equate taxation on heating oil and diesel, but it is not deterring smugglers. Fuel retailers have already criticised the government for not taking action sooner against smuggling and have blamed the controlling bodies inefficiency such as border crossing point, customs and the tax administration.

The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras, considered how to combat the fuel smuggling issue. From the meeting a new plan has emerged for installing a system of controlling the fuel outflow from fuel station dispensers in Athens and Thessaloniki before the end of March this year, with hopes to be extended nationwide by March 2014.

As Britain Begins to Freeze, Demand for Heating Oil Rises

Now that we are halfway through January, the temperatures are dropping and many places in the UK are being affected by snow, the demand for heating oil will be rising to deal with the cold weather. Make sure you monitor the oil level of your tank to ensure you don’t run out. For an excellent way to monitor your oil levels you can purchase the Watchman Sonic from Commercial Fuel Solutions to keep an eye on your tank from indoors and will be able to see when your tank is getting low and needs refilling.
	With the demand of heating oil rising, also comes the risk of oil theft. Make sure you don’t fall victim to heating oil theft by taking preventative measures to deter thieves. Concealing your tank through the use of bushes, fences or even more security such as motion sensitive lights are an affordable but effective method to scare off thieves. A Watchman Alarm is able to monitor if the oil level in your tank has dropped dramatically within a short space of time (indicating a leak or theft) and the Alarm will alert you of this rapid decrease. So don’t risk it this winter, protect your heating oil.

Pollution from Oil Theft Damages the Environment

Pollution has now become an unfortunate added extra if you have been a victim of heating oil theft, which is why police have been urging people who have suffered from theft to report it not only to them but to the Environment Agency.

There is the danger that when your oil tank is broken into, they can often be damaged and what oil hasn’t been taken can leak. The Environment Agency notes that the theft of oil is damaging the environment by leaking out onto the ground and can even affect nearby water and underground water supplies. As well as this, the financial cost of cleaning up an oil spill can cost thousands of pounds.

Police have advised oil tank owners to up their security by concealing tanks, using locks or alarms, but the Environment Agency says that the impact of oil theft on water sources is overlooked and more needs to be done to stop this contamination. 

Speed is the key, so as soon as you have noticed a leak or theft, then contact the Environment Agency to ensure that it is dealt with properly and to prevent the oil spreading.