Will drivers be sold “shmurdyak” instead of gasoline? Why is fuel quality in question?

From March 13, 2022, the State Environmental Inspectorate does not check the quality of gasoline and diesel sold in gas station networks in Ukraine.

The relevant information was provided to the publication enkorr in a government department.

After the full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24 state supervision measures were not carried out in areas where active hostilities were taking place. However, since March 13 they are generally decided to stop during martial law.

“Sampling of non-food products was not carried out and will be carried out after the termination of martial law in Ukraine”– noted in the environmental inspection.

From the beginning of 2022 to mid-March, 113 fuel checks On the market. As a result of the inspection, 148 decisions were made to eliminate formal non-compliance. In addition, fines were imposed on gasoline sellers. for 1.2 million UAH.

Fuel scams

Director of Consulting Group “A-95” Sergey Kuyun reported that against the backdrop of a shortage in Ukraine, cases of fraud are becoming more frequent. Ukrainians are sold low-quality fuel at gas stations – in other words, they sell home-made “shmurdyak”.

According to the expert, the problem of mixing fuel existed before, but now poor quality gasolinebecause there are no required components. It is produced at small refineries, which process gas condensate from Ukrainian deposits, adding octane components.

“Now the cost of gas condensate reaches UAH 50,000 per ton, which is almost the same as the cost of diesel fuel.Kuyun explained.

Previously, octane was raised using so-called solvents from Belarus and Russia. The recipes were different, with the use of A-92 commercial gasoline too, but now there is no way to do this.

Sergey Kuyun added that now dehydrated alcohol is used for this purpose – bioethanol. When this component in gasoline is more than 30%, it is called an alternative fuel, and in general it is allowed in the world. But there are certain quality requirements for it: in particular, the consumer should not experience a difference what kind of fuel is in the tank of his car. Now this effect is difficult to achieve, so drivers are beginning to feel the result – stopping the car and serious problems with the engine.

The government said that gasoline should soon cost less than UAH 40 per liter, and diesel fuel – no more than UAH 43. At the same time, carriers were allowed to travel abroad to purchase fuel without permits, under a simplified procedure.