While Pakistani vehicle owners are already victimized by poor road infrastructure; frequent shortage of fuel; a myriad of insecurities and lawlessness; heavy duties and complicated bureaucratic hurdles on the import of second-hand vehicles, their automobiles are also exposed from the high risk associated with using world's lowest quality petrol, thanks to the democratic values prevailing in the country. Lower quality Petrol means inefficiency i.e low mileage, expensive maintenance, reduced engine life and low automobile mortality.
“Pakistan has been using 87 RON (Research Octane Number) motor spirit for the past 20 years, while the world has moved on to higher RON petrol. In view of sharp reduction in oil prices, it is the best time for switching over to 92 RON premier motor gasoline (PMG) at the earliest,” Petroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told Oil Marketing Companies OMCs and refineries this year. The minister reiterated his viewsPetroleum Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told Oil Marketing Companies recently in Economic Coordination Committee (EEC), the country’s highest economic decision-making body.
Concerned Officials disclose that Pakistani refineries produce lowest quality petrol and the same quality is imported by the state-run Pakistan State Oil (PSO). For some untold reasons, the international oil suppliers, also export poor quality petrol to only Pakistan and Somalia.
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The quality of petrol is measured in Research Octane Number (RON). The higher the Octane number, the higher is the engine efficiency and mileage. Petrol pumps across Pakistan sell RON 87 petrol as the standard, while the world standard is RON 92 or even higher. Most vehicles are designed to operate on RON 92 or even higher.
The minister said a number of options were under consideration to improve the quality of locally produced petrol since refineries require substantial investment to acquire technology to produce RON 92.
According to the express tribune report, the ECC accepted the minister’s suggestion to stop the import of petrol below RON 92 from the next import cycle and allowed the oil marketing companies to import RON 92 petrol under the existing regulated environment. and the refineries will produce RON 90 gasoline. The pricing and import of RON 95/97 (HOBC) shall be fully deregulated for all refineries and oil marketing companies. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority will monitor the selling price of RON 92 petrol as it does for the currently available RON 87 gasoline.
Media Bites Editorial - Tazeen Hasan
Published on September 15, 2016
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