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of Consumer Expertise conducted a study on the accuracy of diesel fuel dispensing at gas stations in Ukraine. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the compliance of actual fuel volumes with the volumes indicated in the payment documents.
As part of the study, networks of various formats were checked: national operators, regional networks, and discounters. The sample included, in particular, OKKO, WOG, KLO, PARALLEL, UKRNAFTA, UPG, as well as BVS, BRSM-NAFTA, MARSHALL, VST, DIESEL-DISCOUNT, 24/7, MANGO, and MARKET. Regional networks were studied separately, including SLON (Odesa), SVOI (Kyiv), PROLUX, AERO 8, and EURO 5 (Kyiv region).
Diesel fuel samples were taken directly at the gas stations and transferred to an accredited laboratory. Measurements were carried out using measuring equipment, taking into account fuel density and adjusting volumes to the sampling temperature.
Key study results:
- about 40% of the checked networks dispense fuel in volumes less than what was paid for;
- approximately one-third of the networks operate within the permissible regulatory deviation (up to 0.5%);
- another third of the networks dispense fuel in volumes that correspond to or exceed those indicated on the receipt.
Networks with dispensing within or above regulatory indicators
According to the study results, a number of national networks demonstrated compliance with or exceeded the declared fuel dispensing volumes.
In particular, a slight excess in dispensing volume was recorded in the OKKO and WOG networks – at a level of about 16 and 12 kopecks per liter. Similar results were obtained for other networks, specifically KLO (up to 30 kopecks/l), PARALLEL (about 20 kopecks/l), UKRNAFTA (about 12 kopecks/l), and UPG.
The results obtained indicate compliance with fuel dispensing accuracy standards and control over equipment compliance with established requirements.
Networks with dispensing within the permissible margin of error
Dispensing within the permissible regulatory deviation (up to 0.5%) was recorded, in particular, in the 24/7, PROLUX, BVS, VST, and EURO 5 networks.
Networks with deviations exceeding the standard
At the same time, deviations exceeding the permissible level, i.e., systemic under-filling, were recorded in a number of networks. Among them are SVOI, BRSM-NAFTA, MARSHALL, DIESEL-DISCOUNT, MANGO, MARKET, and AERO 8. The level of deviations varies depending on the network and the specific facility.
Conclusions
The study results demonstrate different levels of compliance of diesel fuel dispensing volumes with established standards in the market. Some networks provide dispensing within or above the declared volumes, some operate within permissible deviations, and others allow violations of standards.
“In general, if last year ‘under-filling’ was rather a rarity, now networks, especially those with low prices, are rapidly moving toward additional earning methods. And the higher the price, the more pronounced this phenomenon will be,” noted Yuriy Chornobryvets, Director of the Institute of Consumer Expertise.
