Environment & Quality Guarantee

Benzina and the environment

Benzina already adopted an important decision on responsible business with the smallest possible impact on the environment in 1994, i.e. at the time of its establishment. The Benzina joint-stock company began its existence with 280 petrol stations; while this is a substantial number, all these petrol stations were obsolete and environmentally unsatisfactory. Thus, the company had a major environmental obligation right from the time of its formation. Since then, Benzina has been taking steps leading to operation of a business in accordance with the environmental legislation.

During an extensive investment program in 1995 - 1998, Benzina invested over CZK 7 bil. in modernization and improvement of the environmental parameters of its petrol stations. At the present time, Benzina is operating 336 petrol stations (as of June 30, 2010) that fully comply with environment requirements.

Improvement of the environmental parameters of petrol stations

The greatest problem associated with obsolete petrol stations from the environmental viewpoint consisted in emissions of volatile organic compounds into the air. Consequently, an extensive program of modernization of petrol stations was undertaken in 1995, within which the petrol stations were equipped with vapour recovery systems in stages I and II. Modernization of the entire network lasted four years and was completed at the end of 1998. Thus, all the Benzina petrol stations comply with the regulations introduced by Act No. 86/2992 Coll., on protection of the air. Total investments into this four-year modernization program exceeded CZK 4 bil. However, this has resulted in a network of modern petrol stations that are friendly to the surrounding air. From the viewpoint of protection of the environment, the task of introducing new water-management security corresponding to the requirements of the Act on Waters No. 254/2001 Coll. and Decree CSN 753415, is equally important. In practice, this means that petrol stations must be equipped with double-jacket tanks, double-jacket distribution pipes and a double-jacket drainage-free sump for spills. All the inter-jacket spaces in the double-jacket equipment are then consistently monitored, reducing the risk of potential escapes to practically zero.

The remediation of old environmental burdens remains a long-term task for Benzina. Decontamination of the geological environment has been progressing consistently since 1994 and was paid for from the funds of Benzina until 1997. At the present time, decontamination is being performed with the cooperation of the Ministry of Finance and is also paid for from the funds of the Ministry of Finance. Because of its character and the difficulties associated with its performance, this work will continue in the coming years.

Fuel quality
- Fuels are under the constant control of a certified laboratory (Seal of quality)

- The company sells additive automotive fuels and premium high-quality additive automotive fuels.

- The company holds a company integrated management system certificate according to the ISO 9001 international standard New certificate IMS for the fuel sales quality management system (IMS) and related services, ISO 14001 for the environmental protection system and OHSAS 18001 for the safety and protection of health system.

- All the samples taken by the Czech trade Inspection in the Ist half of 2010 complied with the fuel quality standards.

- Premium high-octane VERVA 100 petrol is currently classified as a high-purity (sulfur-free) fuel. (From January 2009, only fuels with low sulfur content or sulfur-free fuels have been sold in the entire network.)

- Since September 2009, new premium VERVA Diesel fuel, with a cetane number of 60 units, has been sold.

- Premium automotive petrol VERVA 95 is being newly being introduced; during the development of 95-octane fuel VERVA 95, a new additive formula was created using the most modern types of lubricant additives, detergents to provide anti-oxidant and anti-corrosion action. This premium petrol complies with all the customer requirements on modern travel.

It also reduces noise levels and this is also an environmental benefit.