Shamil Gumerov: "Fuel quality at the republic's gas stations is stable"

      A month-long campaign to check motor fuel quality is underway in Tatarstan: 5 samples do not meet requirements

      Photo: Dinar Fatykhov

      As part of the traditional month-long campaign to monitor the quality of automotive motor fuels in Tatarstan, a large-scale inspection of gasoline and diesel fuel at the republic’s filling stations has been underway since October 27. The Realnoe Vremya group joined GBU “Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan” employees on another raid.

      “Almost 150 filling stations have already been inspected”

      TV cameras, cameras and voice recorders: at one of the capital’s stations, drivers who pulled in for fuel suddenly found themselves the focus of media attention.

      “There are no questions about the quality. Only the prices have been biting lately,” one vehicle owner replied on the move when journalists asked whether there were any complaints about the gasoline.

      Shamil Gumerov: “We have been checking fuel quality since 2005.”

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      One reason for the lack of complaints is the constant, systematic and unwavering attention of the republic’s leadership to the quality of motor fuel sold to consumers.

      “We have been checking fuel quality since 2005. When the Petroleum Inspection was created and a laboratory appeared, up to 20–25% of motor fuel samples failed to meet quality standards. From about 2008–2009 the situation stabilized, in part thanks to our annual systematic work. People understood that it is better to sell quality fuel than to become the object of attention from regulatory bodies and the ‘heroes’ of media reports,” explained Shamil Gumerov, head of the department for ensuring the rational use and quality of petroleum products, gas fuels and certification of filling stations at the GBU “Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan,” in a conversation with journalists.

      About 2,000 motor fuel samples are taken and tested across Tatarstan each year.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      He added that staff activity is not limited to the month-long campaign: the work runs year-round. The month-long monitoring campaign is simply the most visible media aspect of the office’s activities.

      “We have five mobile teams: each team consists of an inspector, a sampler and a driver. Four teams operate in Kazan and the nearby districts, and one team works in Naberezhnye Chelny and the surrounding areas: Mendeleevo, Menzelinsk, Nizhnekamsk, Yelabuga. To date we have already taken almost 290 samples against a campaign plan of 325. Nearly 150 filling stations have been inspected, both large chains and independent retailers. Over the year, by order of the Government of the Republic of Tatarstan, we take 1,475 samples. Plus, during the year people contact us under contracts, and so in total we take around 2,000 samples a year,” the expert gave the numbers.

      5 samples showed noncompliance

      “Fewer violations are being detected at the republic’s filling stations,” emphasized Shamil Gumerov.

      If ten years ago some stations could be found selling marine fuel as diesel — much cheaper but with sulfur contents a thousand times, or more, above permissible levels — today that is no longer seen. Accordingly, the detection rate of violations has again decreased: 1.5–2% versus 4–5% in 2015. The character of noncompliance when checking six parameters for gasoline and eight for diesel has also changed.

      Shamil Gumerov: “Every year fewer violations related to motor fuel quality are detected in the republic.”

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      “Tests have been completed for 135 samples. Five nonconformities were found. All five detected nonconformities concern diesel fuel. This is explained by the fact that diesel fuel requirements depend heavily on seasonality. In the summer period the cold filter plugging point of diesel fuel (the minimum ambient temperature at which the fuel will not pass through filters — ed.) is -5℃; now stations accept all-season diesel with a cold filter plugging point of -15℃, while ‘winter’ grade is -32℃. We are at the moment when ‘summer’ fuel is switched to ‘all-season’. If there was -5℃ fuel in the tanks and an all-season batch is delivered, and if a large residue remains in the storage, then when mixed the cold filter plugging point may not meet the quality declared on the station’s price board. It would pass as ‘summer’, but not as ‘all-season’. If such fuel is sold as all-season, that is a violation,” the expert explained.

      Shamil Gumerov: “All five violations detected this time during the month-long campaign were committed by small independent retail fuel companies.”

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      The expert refrained from naming which specific filling stations were at fault this time, noting only that they were small fuel retail operators.

      “Large companies such as TAIF, Tatneft and others have their own laboratories. When they load a new batch they take samples themselves and send them for testing. Only after the laboratory confirms everything is fine do they put the fuel on sale as all-season. Until they receive results they sell it as ‘summer’. Small companies don’t have such laboratories. They sometimes sell blended diesel as ‘all-season’. These five nonconformities were found precisely at such enterprises,” Shamil Gumerov shared.

      “Each sample is two specimens”

      The days when mobile teams from the Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan were met with hostility at stations are long gone. Those who have nothing to hide are themselves interested in an authoritative external organization confirming the conformity of the fuel sold.

      One sample is delivered to the laboratory for testing immediately, the second — the arbitration sample — remains at the filling station where the sample was taken.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      Everyone should be able to protect their name, the office believes. Moreover, this right is enshrined in law, so every sample taken at a filling station consists of two specimens poured into two separate containers. Each is sealed to prevent unauthorized access and is accompanied by an explanatory note stating the date of sealing, what fuel is inside and the sample number. The seal and the note on both specimens are identical. There is no network name or station number. Anonymity ensures the impartiality of the independent laboratory’s work. The laboratory for the office is determined by tender each year. One specimen is taken by the mobile team to the laboratory for testing immediately, the second — the arbitration specimen — remains at the filling station where the sample was taken.

      5 days for testing

      With special equipment, automobile gasoline is tested for six indicators:

      - distillation characteristics;

      - sulfur content;

      - actual gum content;

      - density;

      - copper strip corrosion test;

      - appearance (clarity, absence of foreign inclusions).

      Diesel fuel is tested for eight indicators:

      - distillation characteristics;

      - sulfur content;

      - density;

      - copper strip corrosion test;

      - kinematic viscosity;

      - cold filter plugging point;

      - cloud point;

      - flash point.

      Gasoline is tested by six indicators, diesel by eight.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      “Each sample is allocated up to five days for testing in the laboratory. We work both under the tender won with the Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan and on private requests,” laboratory technician Alfiya Kasimova explained.

      Up to 5 days are allotted to test each sample.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      “We send samples to the laboratory, and if the laboratory identifies nonconformity for any parameter, even just one, we send an information letter to the filling station manager, and if they accept our claim, that is, agree with the identified nonconformity, the result is included in the official report. If they express disagreement or distrust of the laboratory’s work, they carry out testing of the arbitration sample in an independent laboratory. If the independent laboratory also confirms the nonconformity, there is no longer room for doubt. If the independent laboratory finds that the sample meets standards, then our claim is withdrawn,” emphasized Shamil Gumerov.

      No complaint will be left without attention

      The GBU “Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan” emphasizes: no appeal will be left without attention. When motorists have an objective doubt about the quality of the offered motor fuel, they can always file a complaint.

      Only specialists are allowed to take samples even on private requests.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      But the office draws particular attention to two points: first, sampling must be carried out by a specialist, whether it concerns a filling station or samples from a suddenly malfunctioning vehicle. Second, the complaint must be objective.

      The GBU “Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan” emphasizes: no complaint will be left without attention.

      Dinar Fatykhov / realnoevremya.ru

      “If someone simply didn’t like the way they were smiled at at the filling station and decided to punish them with an inspection, it should be borne in mind: if the test shows the fuel is good, the consumer will pay for the tests. False accusations are punishable,” warned a specialist from the GBU “Office for Ensuring the Rational Use and Quality of Fuel and Energy Resources in the Republic of Tatarstan.”

      Arseniy Favstritsky