DOE Moves Against Adulterated ‘Bote-bote’ Fuels

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OIL CONSUMER DAY: All smiles as the Department of Energy (DOE) celebrates Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) Day as part of the National Energy Consciousness Month (NECM). Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi together with DOE Undersecretary Donato Marcos, Office of the Secretary Director Cesar Dela Fuente, OIC for OIMB Director Rino Abad, OIMB Assistant Director Rodela Romero, other DOE officials, representatives from different oil industry stakeholders and former DOE Secretary Zenaida Monsada were present during the presentation of five (5) new policies for the downstream oil industry: 1) DPNS/DOE QS 004:2017 CME-Blended Automotive Diesel Oil (ADO) Specification; 2) DPNS/DOE QS 013:2017 CME-Blended Industrial Diesel Oil (IDO) Specification; 3) Code of Safety Practices for LPG Refilling Plants; 4) Retail Rules; and 5) Philippine Downstream Natural Gas Regulation. These policies are aimed at protecting consumers and guiding industry players in offering better products and services.

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 Tuesday, 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.

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 Secretary Cusi.

“We now have categories for gas stations that will encourage the putting up of safer products, facilities and services,” said Cusi.

“We are also open to the various technology-options that are being introduced in the market to address the proliferation of liquid fuels in soda bottles or 'bote-bote'", he added.

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.

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: CME-Blended 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 andj 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.

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