Ukraine postpones transfer to Euro-4 fuel standard until July 1, 2011

The state committee for technical regulation and consumer policy has prolonged the Euro-2 and Euro-3 petrol and diesel fuel standards until July 1, 2011.

The decision is stipulated in committee's decree No. 596 of December 28, 2010, which has been posted on the official Web site of the committee.

"[The decree was issued] to execute cabinet instruction No. 45034/8/1-10 of December 26, 2010 on the provision for the realization of agreements reached at a meeting of the expert and analytical group," reads the document.

According to the decree, DSTU 3868-99 Diesel Fuel Technical Conditions and DSTU 4063-2001 Motor Petrol Technical Conditions were prolonged.

As reported, from January 1, 2011 Ukrainian oil refineries were to switch to DSTU 4839:2007 and DSTU 4840:2007 standards, which are in line with Euro-4 and Euro-5 fuel standards.

Odesa, Kremenchuk and Lysychansk oil refineries announced their readiness from the start of 2011 to start producing petrol corresponding to European standards.

At the same time, Ukrainian Scientific and Research Institute for Crude Oil Refining Industry MASMA said it would not be ready to switch to the production of Euro-4 fuel until January 1, 2012.

The postponing of a transfer to Euro-4 and Euro-5 fuel standards will slow down the development of the Ukrainian oil refining sector and affect investors' trust in the state, said the energy committee of the Ukrainian representative of the American Chamber of Commerce (ACC).

Shell, Orlen Lietuva (Lithuania), Lviv-based Galnaftogaz Concern, Parallel (Donetsk) and some sector experts oppose the postponement of the switch to the Euro-4 and Euro-5 standards.