Azerbaijan developing new fuel standards
By Nigar Orujova
Azerbaijani State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patents jointly with the Institute of Petrochemical Processes are currently developing new environmental standards of Euro-3 and above, which will be applied to various kinds of fuel, Namig Tagiyev, head of the committee's Standardization and Technical Regulation Department, said on January 10.
"The standards are being developed and in this process we are actively working with the Institute of Petrochemical Processes," Tagiyev added.
He further said the development of environmental standards that are applicable to different types of fuel, is quite complex and therefore requires the active participation of specialists.
The process will take time, he said, but not mentioned the terms on finalizing the development of standards.
Earlier, Azerbaijan's Standardization and Certification Institute reported the quality of the fuel produced in Azerbaijan is expected to be brought up to the Euro-3 standard by late 2014.
Cars imported to Azerbaijan starting next year will be checked for engines matching the Euro 3 standard. Only cars with engines matching this standard will be imported into the country, the Azerbaijani State Oil Company SOCAR said.
Currently, the Euro-3 standard applies to vehicles and their spare parts in Azerbaijan, as well as to the fuel produced in the country.
SOCAR has been taking steps to improve the quality of its fuel since 2004 under the program, which consists of several stages.
SOCAR's vice-president for refining, David Mammadov believes production of gasoline corresponding to the Euro-3 standard is planned to start in 2015, in line with the SOCAR program.
The diesel fuel produced by SOCAR already meets the Euro-3 standard. Further improvement of the quality to Euro-4 and Euro-5 gasoline standards will become possible after commissioning of a new oil and gas processing petrochemical complex by SOCAR, which is planned to be constructed in the Garadagh district of Baku, and commissioned by late 2020.