Florida officials have announced that fuel purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday may be contaminated with diesel if it was supplied by CITGO from the Port of Tampa. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) made the announcement on social media, attributing the contamination to human error.
Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the issue during a press conference about Tropical Storm Idalia, which is approaching the southern coast of the United States and could potentially make landfall in Florida. DeSantis stated that an investigation into the fuel contamination and its extent is currently underway.
According to DeSantis, the contamination occurred when workers mistakenly put diesel in tanks that were meant for regular gasoline. While a small amount of diesel mixed with regular gasoline may not cause significant damage to a car, a full tank of diesel could lead to major problems.
FDACS Wilton Simpson is working to compile a list of gas stations that may have received cross-contaminated fuel so that consumers can determine if they filled up at those locations. If anyone believes they purchased contaminated gas, they are encouraged to file a complaint by calling 1-800-HELP-FLA or visiting fdacs.gov.
CITGO, the supplier responsible for the contaminated fuel, discovered the issue at its Tampa terminal due to a product routing error and immediately shut down the rack. The company has notified all CITGO Marketers who lifted gasoline and diesel from the terminal between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. to stop sales. Efforts are currently underway to remove the contaminated product from affected retail locations.
CITGO has expressed its commitment to safe, reliable, and responsible operations and is conducting a thorough investigation into the incident. The company also aims to maintain the quality of its fuels and ensure customer confidence in its products and brand.
Consumers who believe they purchased contaminated fuel on or after August 26 can file a claim with the CITGO Good Gas Guarantee program on the company’s website.
What steps is the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services taking to identify gas stations that may have received contaminated fuel from the Port of Tampa?
Florida officials issue warning of possible fuel contamination in Citgo-supplied gas from Port of Tampa. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced on social media that fuel purchased after 10 a.m. on Saturday may be contaminated with diesel due to human error. Governor Ron DeSantis addressed the issue during a press conference, emphasizing that an investigation is underway to determine the extent of the contamination. The mistake occurred when workers accidentally put diesel in tanks meant for regular gasoline. FDACS is compiling a list of gas stations that may have received the contaminated fuel and encourages consumers to file complaints if they suspect they purchased contaminated gas. Citgo has acknowledged the issue and shut down the rack at its Tampa terminal. Efforts are underway to remove the contaminated product from affected retail locations. The company is conducting a thorough investigation and is committed to maintaining the quality of its fuels and ensuring customer confidence. Consumers who purchased contaminated fuel can file a claim with Citgo’s Good Gas Guarantee program on the company’s website.
