Author: Yu Wai | 02 May 2017
A laboratory which can test the quality of fuel to international standards has opened at the Thilawa Special Economic Zone as the government aims to crack down on those selling and importing low quality fuel.
The project is borne out of a collaboration between the Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association (MPTA) and the Ministry of Energy, with the MPTA covering the $2 million cost of the lab and the ministry taking care of all technical requirements, according to Dr. Win Myint, secretary of the MPTA.
“It’s a five or six step process to provide quality tests using the ministry’s existing laboratory facility. The new facility will enable international-standard quality tests with more accurate results,” said Dr. Win Myint.
Oil importers will have to bring a sample of oil to the laboratory for testing before importing into the country. If the oil sample fails quality tests, it will be banned from being imported into Myanmar.
The ministry will also work together with the MPTA to test petrol and diesel being sold at service stations, in order to crack down on merchants selling diluted or poor quality fuel.
Dr. Win Myint remarked that it’s not uncommon for oil tanker drivers or service station staff to sell quality fuel and replace it with lower quality fuel in order to earn extra income.
“Even though this lower quality fuel isn’t caused by the owners of petrol stations, if we find any low quality fuel in the market, we will warn them and fine them. The second time, we will double the fine. The third time, we will make it publicly known that the fuel failed quality tests,” said Dr. Win Myint.