Don't lose a drop

A bit of a quick background on this photo. JetA1 / Jet fuel is used by all turbine (jet) aircraft around the world compared to piston aircraft (similar to a car) which takes AVGAS (similar to high octane petrol). JetA1 is basically regular kerosene with some extra additives. In most poor (usually Africa) nations kerosene is used as both a light source in lanterns and for fuel in simple gas stoves.

Now because of their similar properties many dodgy (again usually African) fuel operators substitute cheaper kerosene for the JetA1 counterpart. There is nothing massively wrong with this and I've seen many aircraft operate on JetA1 for several months daily with no ill-effects on engine or flying capability. It tends to happen when the wholesale price is about 0.30c vs 0.70c for kero/JetA1, turns into a lot of dollars when you are selling almost a 1000L+ each refuel.

Now the cash-strapped locals of a lot of nations are very ingenious if they work at the airports. Working out that there are several liters of JetA1 basically going to waste when aircraft are re-fueled due to spills and drips from the wing-drains. The driver we had in Pointe-Noire was on the money due to use needing to change the fuel nozzle each day on the truck and the fuel hose holding several litres of waste would come gushing out onto the ground. He would catch about 2-3L a day to take home for his family or sell to friends, possibly making an extra 3 days wage in the process.

Pointe-Noire, Congo

 The driver, re-fueling guy, another re-fueling guy, a random guy helping and some other guy who seems to be 'supervising' the operation. I think they all shared in their glorious kero booty this day