Attention

The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not represent our advertisers

Tuesday, November 03, 2015

‘World’s most expensive gas station’ cost taxpayers $43M

American tax payers are on the hook for a $43 million gas station constructed in Afghanistan — a price tag that’s about $42.5 million higher than it should’ve been, and the Department of Defense can’t explain why, according to a new government report.

“The DOD charged the American taxpayer $43 million for what is likely the world’s most expensive gas station,” Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) John Sopko said, ahead of the release of the SIGAR report today. “DOD spent $43 million on the gas station, without determining it would be a good idea, and now claims it knows nothing about the project.”

The SIGAR report details the planning and construction of a compressed natural gas (CNG) station in the Afghan city of Sheberghan, part of a larger Downstream Gas Utilization Project designed to take advantage of Afghanistan’s natural gas reserves. The gas station itself was meant to prove that CNG stations were a viable alternative to imported petroleum for Afghan vehicles.

SIGAR found that in other countries, for example in Pakistan next door, the total cost for constructing a CNG station can be up to $500,000 — not the astronomical $43 million the DOD paid.

More

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

If the Afghanis want a gas station, they can build it themselves, without the American taxpayer being billed for it.

A $42M cost overrun? I smell black ops slush funds.

Anonymous said...

Halliburton, no doubt.

Anonymous said...

That's the branch of Gov't the GOP SHOULD have shut down. Idtiots.

lmclain said...

Follow the bribes.
And then FIRE EVERY SINGLE PERSON who had any input at all in the approval, construction, and payout for this project.
MAN! Start having some very serious consequences for bribery, misappropriation, theft, scam, mismanagement, and fiscal dumbassness.
THAT would pretty much eviscerate the entire government and government contractors. And most of the military industrial giants.
SOMEBODY should go to prison.
How about THAT guy over there, smoking a joint?
Keep cheering.

Anonymous said...

A lot of hands greased on the way