Besides serving as the fuel reserve depot, the Petroleum Oil and Lubrication, POL, depot at Thingchupangkha in Paro is the only laboratory in the country that conducts quality control tests for fuel. The depot has been operating at its current location since 2019. However, one of its equipment recently became defunct, prompting the Department of Trade to propose new equipment and develop human resource succession plans.
The laboratory conducts quality control testing for petrol and diesel. Samples are collected by regional trade inspectors or occasionally sent by fuel distributors if they suspect quality issues.
The tests are designed to screen for adulteration, contamination, or corrosiveness to engines and related machinery parts. The laboratory tests fuel compatible with Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) engines.
Several pieces of equipment are used to test quality; however, the sulphur testing equipment has become outdated. Replacing it is expected to cost around Nu 10 to 12 M.
In addition to equipment issues, the depot faces challenges in finance and human resource management.
An official from the trade department noted that there was no one available to conduct fuel quality tests in the laboratory for a year due to a lack of qualified graduates.
An assistant chemist and a lab assistant have been recruited about eight months ago to address this gap.
Rinchen Lhazom, Chief Trade Officer of the Department of Trade said “In terms of long-term plans, one is to immediately approach the Ministry of Finance to get some budget to replace our old equipment. The second is to ensure that our employees are regularly trained so that they maintain their proficiency. And the third is also in terms of having a succession plan with the RCSC.”
The country receives all petroleum products, including aircraft fuel, from India as finished products, with tests conducted at border towns.
“It is mandatory on the part of the dealers to carry out field tests. Field tests mean they have to carry out density tests and physical appearance tests, and the water content of the fuel. If the fuel passes these field tests, then only they decant the fuel into the underground tank from where the supply to other locations is being made. And if they find any suspicions in the fuel quality, then they refer the sample further to our laboratory at Thingchupangpkha where we carry out the fuel test as per the Euro 6 fuel specifications.,” said Tshering, Programme Analyst under the Department of Trade.
The Thingchupangkha POL depot was inaugurated in 2019. A similar depot was constructed at Garmani in Monggar this year to serve the eastern districts.
Sonam Dendup
Edited by Tshering Zam
