The State Committee of Ukraine for Technical Regulation and Consumer Policy (Derzhpotrebstandard) has prolonged Euro 2 and Euro 3 standards for petrol and diesel fuel until December 31, 2011.
This is stipulated in a respective order of Derzhpotrebstandard, No. 240 of July 1, 2011, to fulfill an instruction of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The document has been posted on the official Web site of the committee.
According to the document, the DSTU 3868:99 "Diesel Fuel. Technical Conditions" and the DSTU 4063:2001 "Automobile Fuel. Technical Conditions" standards were prolonged.
As reported, Ukrainian oil refineries were to switch to the DSTU 4839:2007 and DSTU 4840:2007 standards, which correspond to Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards, on July 1, 2011.
Odesa, Kremenchuk (Poltava region), and Lysychansk (Luhansk region) oil refineries confirmed their readiness to produce Euro 4 and Euro 5 oil products.
At the same time, Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Ministry and state-owned Research Institute for Crude Oil Refining Industry MASMA proposed to prolong until January 1, 2012 the old standards for Shebelynka Gas Processing Plant (Kharkiv region), Drohobych Oil Refinery (Lviv region) and Nadvirna Oil Refinery (Ivano-Frankinvsk), which have failed to complete their modernization.
According to the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine (ACC), the postponement of the switch to Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards could delay the development of Ukraine's oil processing industry and negatively influence investors' trust in the government.
Shell, Orlen Lietuva (Lithuania), Lviv-based Galnaftogaz Concern, Parallel (Donetsk) and some sector experts also oppose the postponement of the switch to the Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards.
