Togo to Launch Nationwide Fuel Marking Inspections for Fraud Prevention

Togo will launch a new phase of nationwide inspections under its petroleum product marking system on October 1, 2026. The checks are aimed at cracking down on fraud and smuggling while protecting fuel-related tax revenue. Launched on July 31, the Automated Marking System (SAM) involves adding a chemical tracer to petroleum products before they are distributed. The system covers gasoline and diesel, among other fuels. Inspections will be conducted at depots, gas stations, storage and distribution facilities, as well as on tanker trucks. Authorized agents will collect fuel samples to confirm that the marker is present. The samples will be tested using specially equipped mobile laboratories. “This is not simply a visual inspection. The presence of the marker has to be confirmed through testing,” said Esso-Wavana Ahmed Adoyi, chairman of the commission overseeing the automated marking system. The system does not use a visible marker. Instead, a secure chemical tracer combined with a dye is added directly to petroleum products as tanker trucks are loaded at Société Togolaise d’Entreposage (STE). Fines of Up to CFAF 10 Million The system is designed to authenticate petroleum products throughout the supply chain and detect possible tampering. The markers can withstand extreme temperatures and are difficult to alter or remove, while leaving fuel quality unchanged and posing no environmental risk. Penalties vary depending on the violation. Diluting or adulterating petroleum products,