REC: Phase-out of Leaded Gasoline: Current Conditions (3.5)

3. Current Conditions Influencing the Phase-out of Lead in the SILAQ Countries (continued)

3.5 Gasoline distribution system

	The availability of the necessary infrastructure for the distribution of unleaded gasoline is central to increasing consumption. The distribution system includes tanker trucks, gas station storage tanks, pump stations and pump nozzles.
Infrastructure Improvements	In most cases, significant investment is not required to ensure the distribution of unleaded gasoline, and the distribution system is not seen as a serious obstacle to the phase-out of lead. Both tanker trucks and underground storage tanks can be used for unleaded gasoline after the substantial clean-up of any traces of leaded gasoline. If unleaded gasoline replaces older leaded gasoline grades (that is, if there is no change in the total number of gasoline types sold at a particular station), the additional distribution costs are small, and consist mainly of the cost of tank cleaning, and re-labelling of pump stations and nozzles. If the phase-out of lead would result in more gasoline grades being sold, the added costs include additional storage tanks and fuel pumps. It is important to note that measures should be taken to ensure that vehicles equipped with catalytic converters are not accidentally filled with leaded fuel (which would result in the destruction of the converter). This is commonly done by introducing different sizes of pump nozzles, with only the nozzle for unleaded gasoline fitting into the fuel intake of cars equipped with the catalytic converter. Finally, information should be made available at gas stations regarding the applicability of unleaded gasoline. The necessary modifications to the distribution network have been taking place during recent years. Table 21 provides details on the existing gasoline distribution system in the SILAQ countries.

The availability of the necessary infrastructure for the distribution of unleaded gasoline is central to increasing consumption. The distribution system includes tanker trucks, gas station storage tanks, pump stations and pump nozzles.

Infrastructure Improvements

In most cases, significant investment is not required to ensure the distribution of unleaded gasoline, and the distribution system is not seen as a serious obstacle to the phase-out of lead. Both tanker trucks and underground storage tanks can be used for unleaded gasoline after the substantial clean-up of any traces of leaded gasoline.

If unleaded gasoline replaces older leaded gasoline grades (that is, if there is no change in the total number of gasoline types sold at a particular station), the additional distribution costs are small, and consist mainly of the cost of tank cleaning, and re-labelling of pump stations and nozzles. If the phase-out of lead would result in more gasoline grades being sold, the added costs include additional storage tanks and fuel pumps.

It is important to note that measures should be taken to ensure that vehicles equipped with catalytic converters are not accidentally filled with leaded fuel (which would result in the destruction of the converter). This is commonly done by introducing different sizes of pump nozzles, with only the nozzle for unleaded gasoline fitting into the fuel intake of cars equipped with the catalytic converter. Finally, information should be made available at gas stations regarding the applicability of unleaded gasoline.

The necessary modifications to the distribution network have been taking place during recent years. Table 21 provides details on the existing gasoline distribution system in the SILAQ countries.

TABLE 21: Infrastructure for Gasoline Distribution
	Bulgaria	Czech Republic¹	Hungary	Poland	Romania	Slovakia	Slovenia

Number of gasoline tankers	n.a.	2,317	n.a.	n.a.	1,120	245	n.a.

Gas stations (total number)	1,170	1,346	n.a.	5,150	1,186	465	347

Fuel pumps (average number of pumps per station)	4.5	6	4-5	5.7	4	5-10	4-7

Differentiation in filling nozzles between leaded and unleaded gasoline (yes/no)	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes

Percentage of stations offering unleaded gasoline	most stations	95%	100%	97%	35%	100%	100%

Number of stations with vapor recovery installations	13	approx. 50%	50%	570	35	14	72
Tank filling				420	20		65
Car filling				150	15		7

Ownership of gas stations
State	450	n.a.		1,420	576
Private	720	n.a.	100%	3,730	484	100%	347
Other					26
1. Data for 1995.

Distribution of Unleaded Gasoline By the end of 1996, all gasoline stations in Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia were offering unleaded gasoline. In Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, most stations offered unleaded gasoline, while in Romania the share was relatively low (about 35 percent).
In all the SILAQ countries, the distribution of unleaded and leaded gasoline is treated separately, and different types of pump nozzles have been fitted to avoid misfuelling. Combined with a tax incentive scheme, this helps to increase the use of unleaded gasoline.

Vapor Recovery A small number of gas stations are now also fitting vapor recovery installations, with an increase expected. About half of gasoline stations in the Czech Republic and Hungary have been fitted with such systems, primarily at the storage tanks rather than at the pump nozzle.
In most SILAQ countries, some or all of the gas stations have been privatized.
Overall, the distribution system is clearly not a significant obstacle to the phase-out of leaded gasoline. In Slovakia, where leaded gasoline has been completely phased out, the shift from leaded to unleaded gasoline did not require significant investments in the distribution infrastructure. The same storage terminals and transportation modes (pipeline, rail and tankers) could be used after a thorough clean-up of all equipment, although the conversion was undertaken gradually. Other SILAQ countries have not reported any obstacles to the restructuring of distribution systems in relation to the lead phase-out process.


Distribution of Unleaded Gasoline	By the end of 1996, all gasoline stations in Hungary, Slovakia and Slovenia were offering unleaded gasoline. In Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, and Poland, most stations offered unleaded gasoline, while in Romania the share was relatively low (about 35 percent). In all the SILAQ countries, the distribution of unleaded and leaded gasoline is treated separately, and different types of pump nozzles have been fitted to avoid misfuelling. Combined with a tax incentive scheme, this helps to increase the use of unleaded gasoline.
Vapor Recovery	A small number of gas stations are now also fitting vapor recovery installations, with an increase expected. About half of gasoline stations in the Czech Republic and Hungary have been fitted with such systems, primarily at the storage tanks rather than at the pump nozzle. In most SILAQ countries, some or all of the gas stations have been privatized. Overall, the distribution system is clearly not a significant obstacle to the phase-out of leaded gasoline. In Slovakia, where leaded gasoline has been completely phased out, the shift from leaded to unleaded gasoline did not require significant investments in the distribution infrastructure. The same storage terminals and transportation modes (pipeline, rail and tankers) could be used after a thorough clean-up of all equipment, although the conversion was undertaken gradually. Other SILAQ countries have not reported any obstacles to the restructuring of distribution systems in relation to the lead phase-out process.

REC * PUBLICATIONS * PHASE-OUT OF LEADED GASOLINE * CURRENT CONDITIONS