Several motorists in Turnhout, Antwerp province, and its surroundings have experienced engine difficulties after refuelling at a Shell Express petrol station. The company has confirmed that it has closed the petrol pump in question for inspection by its quality control department.
The number of potential victims remains unclear; however, Shell decided to take precautionary measures on Tuesday afternoon. It will analyse the contents of the petrol tank 95 (E10) at its Parklaan location in Turnhout before resuming fuel services.
The common problem was identified after one customer, Gert Paumen, posted on a Facebook group a question asking whether anyone else had experienced issues after refuelling at the site. Paumen told VRT news that he "immediately noticed that something was wrong" and received dozens of responses online from drivers with similar issues.
Some drivers suggested on Facebook that groundwater could have infiltrated the petrol tank, but Shell has not yet commented on these speculations.
Shell encourages any customers experiencing issues after refuelling at this particular petrol station to contact their customer service department. It is not yet clear whether damage will be reimbursed by the company.
