Fuel quality monitoring results obtained during 2008

The overall fuel quality level sold in the Czech Republic since 2005, when the fuel quality monitoring began, remains roughly at the same level, whereas gasoline quality keeps slightly improving.

INSPECTION RESULTS

From the total amount of 2429 samples, collected during 2008, 136 samples did not comply with the applicable quality requirements, which represents 5,6 %.

 

Development of fuel quality during the 2008

 

Time period

Unsatisfactory samples in %

 

gasoline

diesel fuel

mixed fuels*

FAME *

LPG

total

January 2008

2,0

8,5

not collected

not collected

0

5,1

February 2008

3,5

8,1

not collected

not collected

5,0

5,9

March 2008

0

12,1

not collected

not collected

0

6,1

April 2008

2,1

8,5

not collected

not collected

0

5,2

May 2008

0

11,25

not collected

not collected

0

5,6

June 2008

1,0

6,2

100

not collected

0

3,9

1st quarter of 2008

1,5

8,9

100

not collected

1,0

5,2

July 2008

3,6

10,0

not collected

not collected

5,0

6,9

August 2008

1,1

9,4

not collected

not collected

26,7

7,2

September 2008

4,6

10,8

not collected

not collected

6,7

7,9

October 2008

1,2

8,4

100

not collected

0

5,1

November 2008

0

5,1

not collected

not collected

5,0

3,0

December 2008

0

6,9

0

not collected

0

3,6

Year 2008

1,8

8,9

66,7

not collected

4,0

5,6


* available on the market in limited amounts only

 

Fuel parameters, which most frequently did not comply with the required parameters were high distillation end of gasoline (1,5%) and lower octane number of gasoline, tested by research and motor methods (0,4% and 0,5%). Other inspected parameters showed only small deviations. Below 0,4% from the number of collected samples.

As far as diesel fuel is concerned, the parameter which most frequently failed to comply with the applicable requirements was the flashpoint value (8,3% from the number of collected samples). From the statistical point of view, other discovered variations may be considered as insignificant.

Testing of LPG fuel showed that the quality went down, when compared with the previous year. 8 samples from the entire number of 200 collected samples, failed to meet the required octane number tested by motor method, which represents (4,0%).

          

Detailed testing results obtained during 2008, including unsatisfactory criteria and values, are included in the appendix.

 

Annual comparison of fuel quality development

 

Time period

Unsatisfactory samples in %

 

gasoline

diesel fuel

mixed fuels

LPG

total

2nd quarter of 2001

5,7

15,8

42,7

-

13,5

Year 2002

4,0

12,2

27,7

-

9,0

Year 2003

10,4

13,4

20,8

12,9

12,4

Year 2004

6,3

12,3

14,5

2,5

8,6

Year 2005

4,1

7,9

10,3

4,3

6,1

Year 2006

2,4

6,9

17,5

2,0

4,8

Year 2007

3,3

5,4

46,7

2,0

4,6

Year 2008

1,8

8,9

66,7

4,0

5,6

 

From the chart it is clear that the overall fuel quality level sold in the Czech Republic since 2005, when the fuel quality monitoring began, remains roughly at the same level, whereas gasoline quality keeps slightly improving.

 

Based on the proportional number of sold gasoline in the Czech Republic, the most frequently inspected gasoline in 2008 was gasoline SUPER BA-95 (88,3%). Information and results representing the quality development of each type of gasoline inspected during 2008 are included in the following chart.

 

Unsatisfactory samples of gasoline according to type in %

 

Time period

Type of gasoline

SUPER BA-95

SPECIAL BA-91

NORMAL BA-91

SUPER PLUS BA-98

Total

January 2008

1,2

14,3

0

0

2,0

February 2008

1,9

16,7

0

0

2,7

March 2008

1,3

12,5

0

0

1,9

April 2008

1,2

16,7

0

0

2,1

May 2008

0

0

0

0

0

June 2008

0

0

25,0

0

3,6

July 2008

2,6

20,0

0

0

3,6

August 2008

1,2

0

0

0

1,1

September 2008

4,0

0

0

20,0

4,6

October 2008

1,4

0

0

0

1,2

November 2008

0

0

0

0

0

December 2008

0

0

0

0

0

Total for 2008

1,3

7,7

4,3

2,3

1,8

 


 Inspections of bio additives in fuels.

 

Pursuant to amendment of Rule No. 86/2002 Coll., the air protection law and Rule No. 180/2007 Coll., specifying that a person, which introduces gasoline or diesel fuel, used in motor vehicles for transportation purposes to the taxable market in the Czech Republic, must make sure that these gasoline and fuels, which are being introduced to the market in the Czech Republic and will be used for transportation purposes during the applicable calendar year, contain the specified minimum amount of bio fuels.

Starting in September 1st 2007, the law specifies that the amount of bio fuels added to diesel fuels shall be 2 % of the applicable volume unit. For gasoline, the amount is also 2 % from the applicable volume unit, but the law takes effect on January 1st 2008. This number represents the total proportional volume of the entire volume of fuel sold on the market by the applicable and responsible person/business entity.

 

1216 samples of diesel fuels were tested for the contents of fatty acids methyl esters during 2008. Only one sample exceeded the established minimum amount. An average volume of FAME (MEMK) in diesel fuels, tested during 2008 in % of volume units is included in the chart. The average value of FAME during the entire 2008 was 2,2 % V/V.

 

The amount of ethanol in motor vehicle gasoline was tested in 1010 samples. None of the tested samples exceeded the maximum value.


The average volume of ethanol in gasoline samples tested during 2008 in % of volume units is included in the chart. During the entire 2008, the average value of ethanol was 1,3 % V/V.

 

Conclusion:
Fuel quality monitoring, performed by the Czech Trade Inspection Authority on the entire territory of the Czech Republic provides not only statistical data and information used by authorities in the European Union and but also helps to improve the quality of fuels and helps to make environmental and ecological criteria more strict.


Appendixes

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