Regulations on Fuel Quality in Vietnam

Hoang Thi Tinh

Vietnam Standards Center – STAMEQ

1. In Vietnam, some special cities as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh are facing many
problems of environment pollutions caused by many reasons, including motor
vehicles. To reduce pollutions, one thing we can do is “improving fuel quality”-
it is the issue that I am addressing in my presentation.
2. At the end of 2000, Prime Minister has issued Directive No 24/2000/CT-TTg
on Implementation of unleaded gasoline in Vietnam.
Also in 2000, MOSTE has issued the national standard TCVN 6776: 2000 -
Unleaded Gasoline
So the legislation has been completed. Now the question is what kind of
gasoline we want to use to meet, at the same time, the following
requirements: good quality, level of emission and reasonable price.
At present, Vietnam is still a gasoline-import country. It is not right if we
consider this as an advantage. Because Vietnam has huge crude oil resource
(example: 15% - 20% increase annually in exploiting crude oil), but still
import gasoline. The advantages here are as follows:
- You can import the kind of gasoline that you want, and appropriate with
your budget.
- You can correctly anticipate the inputs for future refineries. So you can
save money for modification and upgrading with new technology.
From current situation, the tasks of STAMEQ are:
- To regulate gasoline quality so as to meet the economic and commercial
purposes;
- To be an appropriate technical document for future refinery industry.

Procedure of TCVN development

- Quality Standard Center is directly under the Directorate for Standard and
Quality (STAMEQ - Ministry of Scientific & Technology). The Center is
responsible for researches, planing, to organize for developing the
 national standard (TCVN) and to take part in developing of international
standard (ISO).
- Procedure of TCVN development - direct application of ISO, as follows:

c Proposed
project

d Projet approval

e Planing development of TCVN

f Draft work

g Draft of
Technical committee

h Send draft for comments

i Complete draft

j Approval
issuance
 Procedure of TCVN development
Technical Committee TCVN/TC28 Oil and Oil products - has functions of
developing TCVN on unleaded gasoline.

Technical Committee TCVN/TC28 consists of representatives from

Governmental agencies, organization of research and development of products,
enterprises, testing authorities, universities, research institutes and other
concerned organizations and individuals.
Review direction of TCVN 6776 : 2000
- Review TCVN 6776 : 2000 for establishing a new TCVN 6776 : 2004: that
means to review and combine TCVN 6776 and TCVN 7208 for a complete
TCVN, regulating both quality and environment aspects of unlead
gasoline. ( table1).

Specifications TCVN FS – DA FS – DA úc Japan-‘99 BS – EN

6776:2000 Dung Nghi Sơn (2002) JISK 228:2000
và Quất (2015) 2202
7208:2002 (dài hạn)

1. Octan RON, min 90/92/95 90/92/95 92/95/98 91/95/96 89/96 90/95

MON, min - 82/85/87 81/82/85 -/- 80/85
2 Lead g/l, max 0,013 0,013 0,00 0,005 0,001 0,005
3. Segmental distil composition
- Beginning boiling point, oC report report
o
- 10% TT, C, max 70 70 70
o Min Max
- 50% TT, C, max 120 120 75 110
- 90% TT, oC, max 190 190 180
- End boiling point, oC, max 215 215 210 220
- Residue, % TT, max 2,0 2,0 2,0 2,0
4. Bronze erosion 3h/50oC, max 1 1 1 1 1 1
5. Asphalt content, mg/100 ml, max 5,0 5,0 5,0 5,0 5,0 5,0
6. Oxygenation Stability, min 240 480 240 360 240 360
7. Sulfur , % KL, max 0,15 0,05 0,005 0,005 0,000 150ppm
49-78*
8. Vapor pressure (Reid) ở 37,8oC, 43-80 − 43-80 (winter 93)
Kpa
9. Benzene , %TT, max 5,0 5 1,0 1,0 1,0 1,0
10. Specific Gravity (at 15oC), kg/l report 0,72-0,77 0,783 720-775
11. Hydrocacbon , %TT, max 40 50 35 42 42,0
12. Olefin, %TT, max 45 18 18 18,0-21,0
13. MTBE, %TT, max 10 1 1 7
14. Oxy, %KL, max − 2,7 2,7
15. Oxygenate, %TT, max 0,3
Metanol 3
16. Methanol, %TT, max Etanol 5
Isopropylic
Wine 10
17. Mangan, g/l, max 0,018

As mentioned above, TCVN on Unlead Gasoline will be revised in 2004 and

carried out by Technical committee TCVN/TC28. This committee will have to
consider some major problems, as follows:
1. Scope of application:
- TCVN on Unlead Gasoline in previous years was mostly applied for
supervising import and export, but now it is also for future refineries as
DUNG QUAT and NGHI SON.
2. Specifications of gasoline:
2.1 List of quality specifications in this TCVN will be combined by TCVN
6776 : 2000 and TCVN 7208 : 2002
2.2 Levels of specifications have to be revised.
Example 1: Octan RON
Stipulated in TCVN 6776 : 2000: 90/92/95
And How to stipulate in TCVN 6776 : 2000 to be appropriate?

Refer to table 2:

Table 2: Typical research octan number in Asia Pacific – 2003

Country RON MON

Australia 91 − 95
Bangladesh 80 − 95
Brunei 85 92 −
China 90 93 95
Hongkong − − 95
India 88 93 −
Indonesia 88 − 95
Japan 89 − 96
Malaysia − 92 97
Nepal 87 93 −
New Zealand 91 − 95
Pakistan 87 − −
Papua New Guines 91 − −
Philippines 81 | 87 93 95
Singapore − 92 98
South Korea 91 94 −
Srilanka 90 − 95
Taiwan − 92 95
Thailan 87 91 95
VietNam 90 92 95

Example 2: Sulphur content:

TCVN 6776 : 2000 Smax = 0,15 % KL
Dung Quat project: Smax = 0.05 % KL
Nghi Son project: Smax = 0,005 % KL
TCVN 6776 : 2004: Smax = ?
Similarly, there are different norms:
- Benzene;
- Olefin;
- Oxygenate;

Conclusion and suggestion:

about developing and revision of TCVN 6776 on Unlead Gasoline
1. Gasoline standard has been much concerned by all levels in the society,
from Government to grassroots because it affects directly to many social
aspects, environment and economy.
2. Vietnam hasn’t had refinery at the moment. So gasoline standard are
applied for import and export (but also oriented for future refinery). This is
an advantage because Vietnam will not need to spend much money and
time for conversion or upgrade technology.
3. Vietnam has studied and learnt many experiences in using clean fuels, so
reviewing TCVN will have great changes about environment norms
4. In the sciencetific and technical integration process, Vietnam is supported
and concerned by many foreign organizations. Example as: organizing
this workshop – for getting knowledge and discussion about clean fuels
and vehicle’s quality in Vietnam