Ibb Residents Report Vehicle Failures Amid Suspected Adulterated Fuel Influx

Complaints have surged in Ibb Governorate over the past two days from citizens and drivers whose vehicles experienced sudden malfunctions immediately following refueling at both official and private stations, amid accusations that adulterated gasoline is flooding local markets.

Drivers confirmed that their vehicles stalled shortly after leaving fuel stations, necessitating towing to maintenance workshops. Inspections, according to their reports, revealed impurities and mixing within the gasoline, directly impacting engine performance, causing fuel pump blockages, and reducing combustion efficiency.

One affected individual recounted filling his vehicle's tank completely at a Yemen Oil Company station in the Al-Thalathin area, only for the car to stop abruptly on the Ring Road. A maintenance engineer subsequently confirmed that the fuel contained mixed substances, requiring a complete tank drain, cleaning, and replacement of the fuel, resulting in significant unbudgeted costs and days of lost operation.

Citizens have highlighted increasing appeals from vehicle and transport owners across the governorate, warning about the proliferation of non-specification fuel at numerous stations and demanding a transparent investigation into the source of these materials.

These developments occur within a context of repeated allegations that Houthi militias in the governorate have tightly controlled the importation and distribution sector of petroleum products, underscored by the absence of independent oversight mechanisms to guarantee the safety and quality of fuel offered to the public.

Observers suggest that the continued injection of substandard fuel could cause widespread damage to private and public transport vehicles, thereby exacerbating the financial burdens on citizens already grappling with deteriorating economic conditions and rising costs for maintenance and spare parts.

Affected parties have urged relevant authorities in Ibb Governorate to conduct urgent laboratory tests on fuel shipments circulating in the stations and to hold accountable those responsible for any specification tampering, emphasizing that the financial losses are currently being borne solely by the citizenry whose vehicles are immobilized on the streets.