Company-wide review finds no evidence of contaminated or off-specification diesel
Kwa Nokeng voluntarily notifies BERA and invites independent, unannounced testing at any depot at its own cost
Kwa Nokeng Oil has moved to put the record straight following the circulation of an anonymous WhatsApp video alleging that contaminated diesel was purchased from one of its depots, stating that an immediate review of its fuel-quality records has found no evidence whatsoever to support the allegation.
The company has also voluntarily notified the Botswana Energy Regulatory Authority (BERA) of the matter and has invited the regulator to independently sample and laboratory-test fuel at any Kwa Nokeng Oil depot, at any time and without prior notice, at the company’s cost.
The anonymous video began circulating on or around 27 August 2026. However, the individual making the allegation has not identified themselves or disclosed the depot concerned, date or time of purchase, product grade, quantity purchased, vehicle involved or proof of purchase. Kwa Nokeng Oil has also received no complaint relating to the allegation through any of its depots or published customer channels.
Despite the absence of a formal complaint, Kwa Nokeng Oil immediately initiated a review of fuel-quality records across its depots.
The review found no failed or off-specification product tests, no water ingress in storage tanks, no abnormal density readings, no fuel-quality incidents requiring product isolation or suspension of dispensing, and no other customer complaints relating to contaminated fuel. Tanker seals were also confirmed as intact on receipt, with no recorded interference during transportation.
Kwa Nokeng Oil Chief Executive Officer Mahube Mpugwa said the company takes any question regarding the quality of its petroleum products seriously and therefore chose to act immediately and transparently.
“We want to assure our customers, business partners and the public that we have investigated the records available to us and there is nothing in those records that supports the allegation being circulated. Every fuel-quality check undertaken across our depots for the relevant period is consistent with compliant product.”
Mpugwa said Kwa Nokeng’s decision to approach BERA voluntarily and invite independent testing demonstrates the company’s confidence in its systems and products.
“We are not asking the public simply to take our word for it. We have invited BERA to independently sample and test fuel at any of our depots, without prior notice, and Kwa Nokeng Oil will bear the cost. We stand behind the quality of the fuel we sell and are prepared for our systems and products to be independently scrutinised.”
Kwa Nokeng Oil maintains documented controls throughout its fuel-handling chain, covering loading, transportation, receipt, storage and dispensing. Fuel is loaded from approved supply gantries; tanker compartments and seals are inspected; density readings are checked against product specifications and loading documentation; and offloading is supervised by authorised and trained personnel.
At depot level, tanks are dedicated according to fuel grade and are dipped daily using calibrated equipment, with water-detection checks undertaken at every dip. Fuel also undergoes filtration during loading and again during depot receipt or dispensing, providing double filtration within the handling process. Tanks, pumps, filters, hoses and dispensing equipment are subject to routine inspection and preventive maintenance.
Mpugwa emphasised that Kwa Nokeng remains ready to investigate the specific allegation should the person behind the video come forward with information capable of being verified.
“If there is a genuine complaint, we want the customer to come forward. Give us the depot, date and time of purchase, product grade, quantity, vehicle details and proof of purchase. We will investigate it fully. We have undertaken to complete such an investigation, including sample analysis, within five working days and report the findings to BERA.”
The company has formally asked that any such information received by BERA be immediately referred to Kwa Nokeng Oil to enable the transaction and product concerned to be traced and investigated.
Kwa Nokeng Oil cautioned that anonymous allegations concerning fuel quality can cause unnecessary concern among motorists and potentially damage businesses and livelihoods when circulated without information allowing them to be independently verified.
The company encouraged customers with genuine concerns about fuel quality to report them immediately at the point of sale or through Kwa Nokeng Oil’s official customer channels. This enables the relevant transaction to be traced, fuel sampled and, where necessary, the affected tank isolated while an investigation is conducted.
“Our responsibility is ultimately to our customers,” Mpugwa said. “They must have confidence that when they purchase fuel from Kwa Nokeng Oil, there are systems behind that product designed to protect its integrity from the supply gantry right through to the point of dispensing. Where a legitimate concern arises, we will investigate it openly, thoroughly and without hesitation.”
Kwa Nokeng Oil reaffirmed that its commercial depots remain in good standing with no outstanding fuel-quality findings and that it will continue cooperating openly with BERA on the matter.