Police investigates Namcor’s fuel theft from 69 trucks

Auditors found: Trucks loaded with fuel but no evidence it reached customers

The police are investigating a potential large-scale fuel theft after 69 trucks dispatched from the state-owned National Petroleum Corporation of Namibia (Namcor) reportedly failed to deliver their cargo to customers.

The value of the missing fuel is not yet confirmed, but sources familiar with the case estimate losses of around N$49 million.
Namcor yesterday confirmed to The Namibian that auditors have flagged these transactions.

“Auditors were unable to match 69 trucks that left the national oil storage facility with the product,” Namcor spokesperson Utaara Hoveka said.

“In simple language, this means there was evidence of the trucks having left the national oil storage facility, but a lack of requisite evidence of the trucks having disposed or delivered product [sic] at customer sites.”

Hoveka said Namcor is busy verifying the details.

“The exercise we are busy with is essentially verifying the accuracy of what has been discovered by the auditors. We are still seized with the exercise. Once gaps are determined, we will swiftly implement relevant stringent measures to close them off. The gaps identified will determine the measures that will be implemented,” he said.

The Namibian reported on Friday that four people were arrested between February and March for allegedly stealing fuel worth N$1 million from Namcor.

The suspects are Simeon Shilongo (38), Graham Platt (46), Jason Malima (26) and Denzel Mulunga (21), a nephew of suspended Namcor managing director Immanuel Mulunga.

Malima is related to Victor Malima, chief executive of Enercon, a military fuel supplier company taken to court by Namcor for struggling to pay back N$60 million it owes to the state-owned national oil company.

Both Immanuel Mulunga and Victor Malima denied any links or wrongdoing.

WIDENING THE NET

The Namibian understands that at least 69 trucks containing 2,7 million litres of fuel were recorded to have loaded fuel at the Namcor operated national oil storage facility at Walvis Bay, but there is no evidence that these trucks ever reached the customers.

The alleged syndicate’s timeline is unclear, but information indicates that each truck would carry 40 000 litres of fuel. Namcor sells a litre of fuel at around N$18 to its bulk customers. This brings the total amounts involved to around N$49 million or more.

Erongo regional police commander Nikolaus Kupembona confirmed the investigation, but said it is subject to verification.

According to sources, Namcor went as far as conducting an oil storage operation to transfer fuel from tanks to other tanks in order to identify any potential leakages.

Additionally, the company also conducted diagnostic tests on the pipelines responsible for transporting fuel from the jetty to the storage tanks in the oil facility to detect any leaks. Ultimately, Namcor decided to enlist the services of a security officer to monitor the movements of the trucks.

“The revelation was truly stunning,” a source said.

Here’s the scheme as narrated by close sources: After picking up fuel from the oil storage, a truck will be driven near the customer’s premises seemingly ready to deliver fuel. However, this truck never actually enters the premises. Instead, while stationed nearby, another truck arrives to transfer the fuel tank from the first truck. With the tracker positioned at the front, the original truck’s cab remains parked near the customer’s premises, creating the illusion of a legitimate delivery, while the fuel is redirected elsewhere.

This intricate operation involves collusion among individuals employed by Namcor, truck drivers and insiders at the bulk customer’s facility.

After the auditors’ findings, Namcor dispatched a team to Walvis Bay to strengthen the security system that would enable the national oil storage to move from a paper-based system to an integral system.

COOPERATION

Namcor told The Namibian last week that they are fully cooperating with the police in their investigation to bring this matter to a close and to hold those responsible accountable.

“Should any Namcor employees be implicated in the investigation, we assure you that the necessary actions will be taken in accordance with our policies and the law,” said Namcor spokesperson Paulo Coelho.

The Namibian on Friday reported that two Namcor engineers and a financial staff [member] were questioned by the police, but were not arrested.

“We would also like to clarify that our staff was not called in for questioning, but collaborated with the Namibian Police in giving statements in preparation for the opening of the case,” said Coelho.

Namcor has not shed more detail on the alleged N$49 million fuel theft. The company, however, made a comment on the alleged N$1 million fuel theft.

“While inventory is a critical source of revenue for Namcor, we have risk management practices in place, including insurance agreements that mitigate financial losses to the company.

Namcor said no engineers were suspended. “There have been internal suspensions but we have no records or information regarding the suspension of any engineers affiliated with Namcor or National Oil Storage Facility as reported earlier. We would also like to clarify that our staff was not called in for questioning, but collaborated with the Namibian Police in giving statements in preparation for the opening of the case,” said Coelho.