The Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine has proposed the extension of fuel quality standards that meet the requirements of Euro-3 only to diesel fuel.

The relevant initiative was stated in a letter from the ministry to Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Yuriy Boiko dated July 16, the text of which has been sent to Interfax-Ukraine.

"We ask you to instruct the Economic Development and Trade Ministry to carry out the necessary procedures to extend diesel fuel state standards DSTU 3868-99 until July 1, 2014," reads the document.

However, the ministry said nothing about the extension of DSTU petrol state standards under No. 4063-2001, under which the Shebelynka gas refinery produces fuel.

The ministry explains the need to extend diesel fuel old standards with the fact that about 10-20% of Ukrainian diesel fuel consumption is provided through deliveries via the pipeline system of Russia's Transnefteproduct, which is filled with Euro-3 standard fuel.

"The needs of farmers, as well as Ukrzaliznytsia are satisfied by supplies of this fuel," reads the letter.

The ministry said that the extension of the DSTU 3868-99 standards corresponds to the agreements achieved at a meeting of the expert and analytical group on the functioning of the oil and fuel market on July 12.