LPG country
Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sales in the country topped 1 million tonnes in 2003. This confirmed Poles' second place standing among EU members in automobile LPG consumption, after the Italians.
According to Andrzej Jarzębski, an analyst with research company Expertise, the numbers are expected to rise even more this year, mainly because of two factors. First, thousands of used cars have flooded across the Polish borders since May 1. Owners of these old and often gas-guzzling machines will certainly consider switching to LPG and saving considerable sums by doing so. Second, ever-rising oil prices on global markets have turned visits to the pumps into a daily nightmare. Thus it is easy to understand why the cheaper LPG is the star of the season, accounting for almost 10 percent of the market in 2003.
"The quality of other fuels is being monitored already-LPG needs such attention as well," says Aurelia Kuran Puszkarska, president of the Polish Chamber of Fluid Fuels. Although authorities lack reliable data, it is estimated that the percentage of LPG that is of poor quality is similar to that found in other fuels. And despite improvements this year, illegal mixtures of gasoline and other components exist on a scale that places Poland well behind EU standards. Almost one-third of gas stations controlled by Trade Inspection (Inspekcja Handlowa) sold gasoline not qualified for retail in 2003. This year the number of dishonest station owners, however, fell to 11 percent.
"In Belgium this figure is 3 percent. We should aim for that," says the director of the control department at Trade Inspection, Juliusz Cyra. In his opinion, the Polish judicial system should proceed more swiftly and take a harder line when dealing with lawsuits filed by Trade Inspection. Earlier this year the regional court in Pomorskie voivoidship found a gas trader guilty but punished him with a zł.500 fine. Truly a discount fare, given that current legislation allows fines of up to zł.250,000.
According to Andrzej Jarzębski, an analyst with research company Expertise, the numbers are expected to rise even more this year, mainly because of two factors. First, thousands of used cars have flooded across the Polish borders since May 1. Owners of these old and often gas-guzzling machines will certainly consider switching to LPG and saving considerable sums by doing so. Second, ever-rising oil prices on global markets have turned visits to the pumps into a daily nightmare. Thus it is easy to understand why the cheaper LPG is the star of the season, accounting for almost 10 percent of the market in 2003.
"The quality of other fuels is being monitored already-LPG needs such attention as well," says Aurelia Kuran Puszkarska, president of the Polish Chamber of Fluid Fuels. Although authorities lack reliable data, it is estimated that the percentage of LPG that is of poor quality is similar to that found in other fuels. And despite improvements this year, illegal mixtures of gasoline and other components exist on a scale that places Poland well behind EU standards. Almost one-third of gas stations controlled by Trade Inspection (Inspekcja Handlowa) sold gasoline not qualified for retail in 2003. This year the number of dishonest station owners, however, fell to 11 percent.
"In Belgium this figure is 3 percent. We should aim for that," says the director of the control department at Trade Inspection, Juliusz Cyra. In his opinion, the Polish judicial system should proceed more swiftly and take a harder line when dealing with lawsuits filed by Trade Inspection. Earlier this year the regional court in Pomorskie voivoidship found a gas trader guilty but punished him with a zł.500 fine. Truly a discount fare, given that current legislation allows fines of up to zł.250,000.
