DoE moves against adulterated ‘bote-bote’ fuels
THE SALE of adulterated gasoline and diesel to tricycles and jeepneys in the countryside may soon become a thing of the past, according to Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi.
On Dec. 6, Cusi presented new policies crafted by the Department of Energy ( DoE) Oil Industry Management Bureau that would ease the establishment of gas stations in the countryside.
Mr. Cusi said that the “bote-bote” system or sale of gas and diesel on soda bottles opens end-users to the purchase of adulterated fuel and exposes the public to the dangers of fire and explosion.
The new policies under the downstream oil industry are intended to further protect consumers by enticing industry players to provide better services and products.
The policies were unveiled as part of OIMB Day in line with the celebration of December as the National Energy Consciousness Month ( NECM).
Themed with the E-Power Mo campaign, the NECM highlights the importance of energy in the daily lives of the Filipinos and the country’s overall economic development.
“The Revised Retail Rules, The Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Industry Regulation and Handbook on LPG Safety Code in Refilling Plant are a welcome development in their respective sectors,” said Mr. Cusi.
“We now have categories for gas stations that will encourage the putting up of safer products, facilities and services,” said Mr. Cusi.
“We are also open to the various technologyoptions that are being introduced in the market to address the proliferation of liquid fuels in soda bottles or ‘ bote- bote’”, he added.
Mr. Cusi affirmed the need to cater to the dynamic segment of the transport industry, the tricycle drivers and operators and those living in remote areas.
Mr. Cusi said the DoE drafted and endorsed to the Department of Trade and Industries-Bureau of Product Standards the new Philippine National Standard ( PNS) for automotive and industrial diesel products in compliance with the standard specification under the Philippine Clean Air Act.
The DoE- OIMB also separated the PNS for automotive and industrial diesel oil.
PNS/DOE QUALITY STANDARD: 004:2017
The improved PNS/ DoE Quality Standard (QS): 004:2017 on coco-methyl ester (CME)blended Automotive Diesel Oil Specification contains revised technical provisions to upgrade the fuel quality requirement (such as reduced sulfur content limit in compliance with Euro- 4 emission standard) and test methods for more accurate evaluation of fuel quality.
PNS/DOE QUALITY STANDARD 013:2017
The upgraded PNS/ DoE QS 013:2017: CMEBlended Industrial Diesel Oil Specifications include introduction of cetane number or derived cetane number as new property, removal of distillation property, reduction in the limit of carbon residue, increase the limits of density, flash point and kinematic viscosity and updating of test method.
Said standards aim to improve diesel quality for cleaner and efficient fuels sold in the market.
CODE OF SAFETY PRACTICES FOR LPG REFILLING PLANT AND RETAIL RULES
Giving more protection to oil consumers, the DoE- OIMB issued the Code of Safety Practices for LPG Refilling Plant and updated the Retail Rules. These two policies are essential to safeguard the welfare of the consumers against unscrupulous trading of petroleum products ( i. e., adulteration and under- delivery), said the DoE.
They will also provide regulations on emerging and expanding technologies in the retailing of liquid fuels and more stringent measures for safe LPG manufacturing and use.
PHILIPPINE DOWNSTREAM NATURAL GAS REGULATION
Lastly, the DoE- OIMB also announced the issuance of the Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation ( PNGR), which provides standardized guidelines in the accreditation, operation, maintenance of natural gas infrastructures and facilities as well as its supply importation and transportation.
The PNGR will also liberalize entry to the natural gas market and adherence of participants to international and Philippine health, safety, security and environment standards.
The policy will also allow Third Party Access to liquefied natural gas ( LNG) import receiving facilities, Transmission and Distribution pipelines to create more players in the downstream natural gas value chain.