Moldovan energy minister provides clarifications on quality of diesel fuel sold in Moldova

Energy Minister Dorin Junghietu has provided additional clarifications regarding the incidents reported in recent days about the allegedly unsatisfactory quality of diesel fuel sold on the market in Moldova.

According to the official, during this week, the Consumer Protection and Market Surveillance Inspectorate received more complaints from citizens who reported malfunctions in their cars, especially in the diesel filtration systems.

Junghietu said that the complaints had been registered throughout the entire country and do not concern a single economic operator, while consumers associated the malfunctions with the quality of the fuel used.

Following these complaints, the authorities initiated the procedure for taking diesel fuel samples, which were sent for testing to an authorized laboratory, in order to verify compliance with quality standards.

“I would like to offer a bit more technical context in this situation. In Moldova, the European standard EN 590:2022 regarding diesel fuel quality parameters has been transposed. Thus, for the winter period, the standard establishes more classes of diesel fuel, depending on the Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP). For the temperate climatic zone, such as the one of Moldova, classes A – F provide CFPP parameters from +5°C to -20°C,” the minister noted.

The decision regarding the class of diesel fuel imported lies with the oil companies and is influenced by climatic conditions and the availability of the product on regional markets. As a rule, during the cold season, diesel of class E (down to -15°C) or F (down to -20°C) is imported. However, in the recent period, nocturnal temperatures in Moldova have reached -23°C and -25°C, below the limits set for these classes.

Similar situations have recently been reported in other countries in the region, including Romania, such problems being possible in conditions of extreme frost, when temperatures drop below -15°C.

The authorities assure that they are closely monitoring the situation and will take the necessary measures to ensure the security of the country’s fuel supply and the protection of consumers.