Transfer over to sulphur free fuels has been done successfully.

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 242 samples collected during the month of January 2009, 6 samples did not comply with the applicable quality requirements, which represents 2,5 %.

* available on the market in limited amounts only

As you can see from the chart above, in January 2009, the quality of the inspected fuels significantly improved for all types of fuels when compared with results obtained from last January, as well as with results obtained during the entire year 2008. All samples of gasoline and LPG fuels complied with applicable standards. From all 123 collected and inspected diesel fuels, only 6 samples (4,9 %) did not comply with applicable norms and the variations were only in the flashpoint value.

The testing results, including unsatisfactory criteria and values, are included in the appendix.

During the month of January 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 January was 3,3 % volume units and the maximum was 5,6 %.

The average amount of ethanol in motor vehicle gasoline was 2,5 % volume units. The maximum value is 5,0 % 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). All tested samples of diesel fuels complied with the maximum allowed value of sulphur. All tested samples were sulphur free. The average sulphur contents in gasoline, revealed by the inspection was 3,8 mg/kg (max. 9,6 mg/kg) and 7,0 mg/kg in diesel fuels (max. 11,0 mg/kg). Therefore, based on the CTIA findings, we may say that the transfer over to sulphur free fuels has been going well so far.

During the month of January 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 (24 samples), as well as the induction period of motor vehicle gasoline was added (18 samples). No deviations or variations from the applicable standards were discovered.

Conclusion

During January 2009, a significant improvement in the quality of all types of fuels has been noticed. All collected samples of motor vehicle gasoline and LPG fuels, complied with the applicable requirements. From all 123 collected and inspected diesel fuels, only 6 samples (4,9 %) did not comply with applicable norms and the unsatisfactory values were noticed only in the flashpoint requirements. Transfer over to sulphur free fuels has been done successfully.

Appendixes

• Fuel inspection results obtained in January 2009 (34.3 Kb)
• Fuel inspection results obtained from the Czech Association of Petroleum Industry and Trade (ČAPPO) (24.1 Kb)