Press Release

BENZINA belongs to the first tested gas station chain in the Czech Republic.

Prague, 21 June 2007 - Fuels sold at BENZINA gas stations went successfully through the quality testing in the first mobile laboratory in the Czech Republic. This unique mobile laboratory is operated by the Institute of fuels and lubricants. The representatives of the Institutes collected the samples and tested them. All tested samples from a total of three gas stations fully complied with all required norms. BENZINA became one of the first fuel distributors who asked for public testing of petrol and oil quality.

The mobile laboratory which is a complete novelty in the area of testing and quality control of fuels will be available to all entities interested in quick and easy control of compliance of their fuel with the quality norms. Testing is conducted directly at the gas station and the results are available immediately after the testing. Provided that the fuel complies with the norms, the accredited laboratory immediately issues the certificate „Fuel complies with the respective product norm". The mobile laboratory also expedites the control analysis and verifications of quality during various technology processes at gas stations performed by various companies.

„BENZINA always paid maximum attention to the fuel quality. Therefore, we welcome this unique service bringing the simplification and primarily faster fuel testing. We will be able to quickly react and flexibly verify the fuel quality even in case of a minor suspicion or customer's complaint, if any," says Ing. Václav Loula, Director of quality division of BENZINA.

Additional information for press

Results of the first fuel testing at the BENZINA plus gas stations
The first petrol and diesel tests of BENZINA were done in the mobile laboratory. The samples were collected on June 12 - 13, 2007 at BENZINA plus at Průhonice (D1, right side), at Bělohorská and Mladá Boleslav.

The samples of the collected car petrols BA 95 complied in the tested indicators density at 15°C, distillation test (ČS Praha-Průhonice, Mladá Boleslav), OČVM (octane number through a research method), OČMM (octane number through engine method), benzene content, aromats and olefins content as well as content of oxygenous substances and oxygen and steam pressure with the ČSN EN 228 requirements for class A for summer period.

The samples of engine oils collected at three gas stations also complied in all tested indicators density at 15°C, distillation test (ČS Bělohorská), cetane number, cetane index, MEMK content (methyl ester of saturated acid), poly-aromatic hydrocarbons content, ignition point and water content with the quality norm of ČSN EN 590.

Quality Seal
BENZINA focuses on fuel quality very carefully even beyond the statutory control framework (Czech trade inspection). BENZINA, for example is one of the few gas station chains in the Czech Republic that obtained permission to use the „Quality seal" symbol. This symbol guarantees to the customers that the fuel is regularly tested and complies with the respective quality norms. The quality is controlled by the inspection body accredited for fuels, the tests are done by the accredited laboratory under the complex testing norms.

About BENZINA
BENZINA, s.r.o., with its 319 public gas stations operates the largest national network in the Czech Republic offering fuel and other goods and services to a broad range of customers. BENZINA was established on 1 January 1994 by dividing the former state enterprise BENZINA to BENZINA, a. s., ČEPRO, a. s., (product pipelines) and state enterprise BENZINA. Today, the company is a 100% subsidiary of UNIPETROL holding. The last major milestone in the history of BENZINA was 1 May 2007, when BENZINA changed its legal form from a joint stock company to a limited liability company. In 2006, BENZINA controlled 11.5% of market, thus ranking third on the local retail market. In 2006, Benzina showed a profit of 16,25 mil. CZK according to Czech accounting standards, at the total sales of 13, 2 billion CZK.