Reps to probe incidences of contaminated aviation fuel

As part of efforts aimed at averting fatal air crashes in the country, the House of Representatives on Thursday resolved to investigate incidences of aviation fuel contamination, associated safety risks and non-adherence to international standards and industry best practices in fuel supply and distribution in Nigerian Aviation oil industry.

The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of a motion on a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, sponsored by Hon. Olawuyi Tunji (APC-Kwara), who solicited for the House intervention.

In his lead debate, Hon. Olawuyi expressed grave concern over increasing incidences of aviation fuel contamination, associated air travel risks and possible non-adherence to standard operating procedures and industry best practices in the aviation oil industry.

“The House is aware of the serious fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of Boeing 737-300 aircraft belonging to Max Air B737-300 leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shutdown on Thursday 7th July 2023 at the Yola Airport.

“The House is also aware that Max Air has reportedly confirmed that it got the contaminated fuel from certain undisclosed aviation refueling outlet which eventually led to the unfortunate incidence and grounding of its 5N-MHM aircraft by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA).

“The House also notes that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) following the incident via a letter NCAA/DG/AIR/11/16/363 dated 9th July 2023 suspended Parts A3 (Aircraft Authorization) and D43 (Aircraft Listing) of the Operations Specifications issued to Max Air Ltd with regards to the operations of the Boeing B737 aircraft type in their fleet.

“The House is concerned that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) noted several occurrences involving Max Air Boeing B737 aircraft including the loss of the Number 1 Main Landing Gear (MLG) wheel during the serious incident involving a Boeing 737-400 aircraft, registration marks 5N-MBD which occurred between take-off at Yola Airport, Adamawa State and on landing at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, Nigeria on May 7, 2023.

“Fuel contamination of the main fuel tanks of aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM, leading to the Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) shut down on the ground at Yola Airport on the 7th of July, 2023,
aborted take-off of a Boeing 737-400 aeroplane, registration mark 5N-MBD, at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) on July 11, 2023, due to a high Exhaust Gas Temperature (EGT) indication; and an air return by aircraft B737-300, Registration Marks; 5N-MHM to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA) due to duct overheat indication in the cockpit on the 11th of July, 2023.

“The House is also concerned that there have been many flight accidents in history caused by fuel contamination resulting in abnormal operation of aircraft engines and water as a major contaminant.

“The House is disturbed that in recent times, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has been receiving a series of mandatory occurrence reports from airlines and other aircraft operators with issues related to water being found in the aircraft fuel tank of the aircraft.

“The House is also disturbed by the inability of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and other associated aviation and oil regulatory agencies to address the increasing sharp practices in the aviation fueling industry where some unregistered portfolio jet fuel marketers using the throughput arrangement to supply aviation fuel with little or zero traceability in its supply chain instead of the regulated Joint Venture (JV) model with a negative impact on lives, properties, economy and the aviation industry.

“The House is worried that the Nigerian regulatory agencies in the aviation oil industry have demonstrated a lack of capacity and failed to ensure certification of appropriate specification and proper handling of fuels to remain essentially free of harmful contaminants during production, transportation and distribution while putting into cognizance that the specifications and parameters against which fuel quality measured are within allowable limits and ensure that deviations from the specifications are permitted.

“The House is also worried that when jet fuel from variegated sources are mixed and co-mingled in the same tank, the co-mingling changes the jet fuel chemistry, as the specific gravity of the co-mingled jet fuel changes, leading to the unbalanced proportion of the static dissipater additives may cause electrical inequality which may charge the fuel electrically in tank and cross-contamination with fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) causing batch traceability damage as relevant Quality Control Documents demonstrating fuel quality that must accompany the product to its destination like Refinery Certificate of Quality (RCQ), Certificate of Analysis (COA) and Recertification Test Certificate (RTC) are no longer correct.

“The House is cognizance of the urgent need to maintain strict adherence to international standards and industry best practices in fuel supply and distribution, stop the rising cases of the contamination of the Aviation Kerosene popularly known as Jet A1 in Nigeria,” he noted.

In his intervention, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu observed that the proposed amendment by Hon. to suspend the airline was unjustifiable as it could not afford to destroy its plane deliberately.

When the question was put, the lawmakers shouted no, despite being seconded by Hon. Eze Nwachukwu Eze.

To this end, the House resolved that the ad-hoc committee (when constituted) should take urgent steps to investigate the motion and report to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.

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