Local authorities say oil imported from Iran and other countries in West Asia is of poor quality because of corruption at the border and interference from powerful government officials and powerbrokers.
Local authorities say oil imported from Iran and other countries in West Asia is of poor quality because of corruption at the border and interference from powerful government officials and powerbrokers. Killid investigates.Roughly 100 oil tankers enter the country every day through Islam Qala, Abu Nasr-e Farahi and the dry port of Torghondi, all three in Herat province.
Governor of Herat Sayed Fazlullah Wahidi blames corrupt officials in ANSA (Afghanistan National Standards Authority) – present at border checkpoints and dry ports – for conniving with oil companies to import adulterated oil, which is seen as responsible for high levels of air pollution and damage to vehicles and factories.
The governor claimed he had the oil tested in a “modern laboratory” of ISAF (International Security Assistance for Afghanistan).
The Herat Attorney General’s (AG’s) office is probing the allegations of corruption leveled by the provincial government.
Meanwhile Mohammad Tahir Anbari, head of the High Office for Oversight and Anti-corruption in Herat, said they have cracked down on the ANSA office in Herat and also stopped 11 tankers bringing in poor quality oil through Torghondi last month.
According to Anbari, the AG’s Office is probing both officials in ANSA in Torghondi and from four oil importing companies but he did not reveal their names or other details.
Importers have also expressed resentment at the arbitrary functioning of ANSA officials particularly in Torghondi and Islam Qala.
Finding fault
They criticise the Ministry of Commerce’s decision to permit ANSA to sign a contract for oil testing with an Indian company Geochem Middle East – at a cost of 4 million USD annually to the exchequer.
Najibullah Yusufi, head of the Fuel Association in Herat says as a result of restrictions imposed by the provincial office of ANSA the number of oil tankers crossing through Islam Qala and Abu Nasr-e Farahi border checkpoints has declined from 200 to 50 per day. In fact, traders are not allowed to import oil from Iran, he claims.
However Killid’s investigations reveal traders are importing oil from Iran through the Nimroz border where there are no restrictions imposed by ANSA. Traders only have to pay tax on oil imports.
Fuel Association head Yusufi urges the government in Kabul to ensure there is a uniform set of regulations for all ANSA offices.
ANSA officials in Herat reject the charges of corruption. “Geochem Middle East is a reputed international company with a presence in 28 countries,” says ANSA head Aminullah Amini. “It is impossible that there might be any mistake in their work.”
He says 50 tankers in Torghondi were rejected after testing showed the oil was of poor quality. The report has been sent to the dry port and to the provincial police commandant.
Neither his office nor the Indian company can be accused of administrative corruption as the latter was conducting tests both in Dubai and Herat, Amini asserts. Killid tried to get the views of the Indian company but officials did not respond.
Powerful interests
Amini alleges ANSA is a victim of a witch-hunt by some governmental offices whose “interests” were affected with its creation. “They are the offices that directly or indirectly have a hand in the oil affairs of Herat,” he claims.
Khesraw Abdullah, the head of the oil department in Herat, says his office has prevented the import of 100 tankers of poor quality oil through the border with Iran and Turkmenistan this year. He feels ANSA has been effective since traders are rarely able to sneak in substandard oil.
Deputy governor of Farah Rasouli says his officials have arrested importers of poor quality oil but in every instance because of interference from governors, members of parliament, ministers and other powerful individuals the law has not been able to take its course, and the arrested have evaded prosecution. Even poor quality oil that was confiscated by the authorities has been released into the market because of political pressure, he adds.
He claims that ANSA does not have an office in Farah province because “some” government authorities are earning money from the import of poor quality oil.
The Deputy AG of Herat, Gul Ahmad Ramesh, defends the judicial process. He says last year six cases of importers accused of deliberately importing substandard oil were forwarded to the courts after investigation. The accused are trying to pressure the court but justice will be done, he believes.
Killid’s investigations revealed an oil mafia had set up “plants” to recycle used oil from automobiles and factories in the border districts of Ghorian, Kohsan and Shindand in Herat.
Tor Mohammad Zarifi, the member of Herat’s provincial council says corrupt traders import the oil.
According to Khesraw Abdullah, his office was able to shut down one such factory on the Islam Qala highway with the help of security forces. Two people were arrested, and handed over to the police.
