INSPECTION OBJECTIVE:

To monitor quality of fuels sold on the territory of the Czech Republic, in accordance with inspection directive No. PK 01/2008 (Rule No. 7, Item 2a, Rule No. 311/ 2006 Coll., directive No. 229/2004 Coll.).

INSPECTION FOCUS:

Gas stations selling fuels on the territory of the Czech Republic.

SUBJECT OF THE INSPECTION:

To collect samples of fuels (gasoline, diesel fuels, mixed fuels and LPG fuels) and to inspect the quality and compliance with applicable requirements. Inspection was focused on whether regulations included in Rule No. 3, Item 1, Rule No. 311/2006 Coll., the Fuel regulation law are followed and observed.

INSPECTION RESULTS

From the total amount of 279 samples, collected during the month of April 2009, 23 samples did not comply with the applicable quality requirements, which represents 8,2 %.

* available on the market in limited amounts only

From the following chart it is clear that during the month of April the inspection revealed deficiencies in all types of fuels excluding LPG. All 20 collected samples of LPG proved to be in compliance with the applicable quality standards. From 118 collected samples of motor vehicle gasoline, 8 samples failed to comply with applicable standards, which represents (6,8 %). As far as motor vehicle gasoline is concerned, most frequent deviation from the standard was the amount of aromatic additives and the octane number determined by motor method and octane number determined by research method (5,1 %, 4,2 %, 3,4 % from the collected gasoline samples). From 141 collected samples of diesel fuel, 15 samples failed to comply with the applicable standards, which represents (10,6 %). 13 samples showed variations only in the flashpoint value. Further, in 6 cases (4,3 %), testing revealed unsatisfactorily sulphur contents and in 4 cases (2,8 %), unsatisfactory density and unsatisfactory result of the distillation test. In 13 cases (7 samples of vehicle gasoline, 6 samples of diesel fuel), the testing revealed serious deviations from the applicable standards, as several quality parameters did not comply with the requirements. The testing results, including unsatisfactory criteria and values, are included in the appendix No. 1.

Overall data of gas stations, which showed discrepancies in quality requirements during inspections performed in April 2009, are listed in appendix No. 2, which also contains values of unsatisfactory quality parameters.

During the month of April 2009, the upper limit of bio additives in fuels has not been exceeded. The average volume of FAME contents of diesel fuels, inspected during the month of April was 4,5 % volume units and the was maximum 5,1 %.

The average amount of ethanol in motor vehicle gasoline was 3,2 % volume units. The maximum value is 4,6 % volume units.

Sulphur contents

Starting on January 1, 2009 and pursuant to directive No. 229/2004 Coll., only gasoline free of sulphur may be sold. The maximum allowed sulphur contents is 10 mg/kg (including the applicable uncertainty of the measurement, the maximum value is 13 mg/kg for motor vehicle gasoline and 12 mg/kg for diesel fuels).

The average sulphur contents in vehicle gasoline, revealed by the inspection was 4.7 mg/kg (max. 9.8 mg/kg) and 23.9 mg/kg in diesel fuels (max. 946.0 mg/kg). The reason why the average sulphur contents discovered in diesel fuels was so high, is that the maximum allowed limit of sulphur was exceeded in 6 samples (946,0; 240; 223; 217; 305; 313 mg/kg).

During the month of April and in connection with the process of putting additives into bio fuels, the number of inspected and monitored parameters was increased above the limits specified in the directive No. 229/2004 Coll. The oxidation stabilization factor of diesel fuels was added (28 samples), as well as the induction period of motor vehicle gasoline was added (28 samples). No deviations or variations from the applicable standards were discovered.

Conclusion

During the month of April, the number of unsatisfactory fuel samples not complying with applicable Czech standards increased when compared with previous months. This increase occurred mainly in motor vehicle gasoline. Diesel fuels showed only slight increase. 12 unsatisfactory samples (6 diesel fuels and 6 gasolines SUPER BA – 95) from 13 collected samples, showed serious deviations from the applicable standards. All samples were collected from gas stations belonging to the same company. These deviations were serious and suggest that fuels were altered illegally.

Appendixes

• 4-09.xls (29.7 Kb)
• 1-4-09.xls (31.2 Kb)