M AZIZUR RAHMAN: Institution (BSTI) has moved to lower the specification of petrol for local use of dirtier fuel only to threaten the environment and motor engines.
It sent a letter to industries secretary last week to implement petrol’s downgrade from the existing RON (research octane number) 89 to RON 87.
This move, however, is self-contradictory as the BSTI in 2019 upgraded petrol’s specification to RON 89 from RON 87 for cleaner environment and protection of engines of motor vehicles.
In 2012, the same state-run agency upgraded the specification by seven points to RON 87 from RON 80.
Sources said the downgrade of specification for local consumption will also go against the government’s overall strategy to ensure the environment through consumption of cleaner petroleum products.
Despite higher costs, the Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) started importing cleaner diesel with 0.005-per cent sulfur content from July 2020 replacing the previous specification of higher 0.05 per cent.
It has also started importing cleaner marine fuel with 0.5-per cent sulfur instead of the previous dirty 180 CST high sulfur fuel oil with 3.5-per cent sulfur.
The BPC has been importing cleaner marine fuel as per the International Maritime Organisation’s guideline for cleaner environment.
In neighbouring countries, the quality of petrol is much cleaner than Bangladesh’s, sources cited.
India has RON 91, Pakistan RON 92, Sri Lanka RON 92 and Myanmar RON 92 specifications for domestic consumption.
When contacted, a senior BSTI official said the standards body has moved to downgrade petrol’s specification following an appeal of the Petrochemical and Refiners Association of Bangladesh (PRAB).
Last February, the PRAB in a letter to industries ministry sought to downgrade petrol’s specification to RON 80, he added.
The ministry subsequently sought comments from the BSTI over the PRAB’s appeal, the official mentioned.
The BSTI’s committees on mineral, fuels and petroleum products and chemical division discussed the issue and recommended specification at RON 87 locally considering ‘national interest’ and the ‘current socio-economic status’.
When contacted, a senior official of energy and mineral resources division under power, energy and mineral resources ministry protested the move.
He said the step to downgrade petrol’s specification goes against a High Court verdict in January 2020 to ensure production and use of environment-friendly petroleum products.
Following an appeal from a consumer, the Supreme Court in January 2020 directed all stakeholders concerned to ensure and supervise that all petroleum filling stations sell petrol, octane and diesel as per the BSTI’s specifications.
There were widespread allegations then that some plants were supplying low-graded petroleum products for long, which caused damage to vehicles and other mechanical installations after use.
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