IN a bid to further improve fuel quality and lessen its impact on the environment, the Department of Energy (DOE) has established an upgraded standard for automotive diesel oil.
“The new Philippine standards for automotive diesel oil are in line with our mandate to implement programs and policies that will complement and comply with existing international and environmental standards for fuel,” Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi said.
The DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB), together with oil industry stakeholders, approved the Philippine National Standard (PNS)/DOE Quality Standard (QS):004:2017 on coco-methyl ester (CME)-blended automotive diesel-oil specification.
The new PNS for automotive diesel oil contains revised technical provisions to upgrade 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.
It is separate and distinct from the standards of the Industrial Diesel Oils, which has distinct standard designation, specifically PNS/DOE QS 013:2017.
“The primary impact of the new PNS for diesel strengthens the government’s consistent and continuing program toward the use of cleaner fuels and promotion of indigenous and sustainable energy resources with the end view of reducing dependence on imported oil,” Cusi said.
The new PNS for automotive diesel oil also supports the country’s commitment in the international community to reduce carbon emissions through smarter and more efficient use of automotive fuel for transport.
Also recently, the DOE released a unified Code of Safety Practices in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) refilling plants as part of its aggressive campaign for safer use of LPG.
“The Code of Safety supports the DOE’s ‘E-Safety Mo’ campaign as we commit to strengthen consumer protection against illegal peddling and use of petroleum products, including LPG,” Cusi added.
With the substantial contributions from industry stakeholders, the Code of Safety Practices in LPG Refilling Plants outlines the safety standard operating procedures are as follows:
- Tank truck and lorry-entry procedure: a) vehicle-safety entry check (minimum requirements)—tank-truck operation; and b) vehicle-safety entry check (minimum requirements—lorry operation. Requirements include tasks of the the officers, personnel and drivers, as well as specifications for vehicles transporting and distributing LPG in cylinders.
- Cylinder-refilling procedure: This includes requirements for: a) counting check of empty cylinders; b) segregating of cylinders for repair, repaint, requalification, scrap or nonconforming, good and others; c) unloading of brand-new and requalified-repair cylinders from supplier/vendor; and d) filling of cylinders using electronic manual filling machines.
- LPG cylinders housekeeping and preventive maintenance: This covers specific requirements for: a) LPG cylinders housekeeping; and b) general preventive maintenance.
- Fire drill and fire marshall, which includes conduct of activities concerning: a) fire and evacuation drill; b) procedures before and during fire drill; c) fire tetrahedron theory; d) basic fire safety; and e) fire extinguisher.
- Personnel-training requirements: This includes needs for: a) LPG product knowledge; b) basic fire-fighting seminar; c) first-aid training seminar; and d) basic occupational safety and health seminar.
Image credits: Alysa Salen