Fuel station network "BRSM-Nafta" "overcharged" diesel buyers: wholesale clients incurred losses

Fuel station network "BRSM-Nafta" "overcharged" diesel buyers: wholesale clients incurred losses

Several wholesale clients of «BRSM-Nafta» incurred losses due to the purchase of diesel fuel with an elevated temperature.

This is evidenced by documents available to the editorial team of enkorr, as well as confirmations from the affected buyers.

According to the waybill (TNN), the temperature of the diesel shipped on February 7, 2024, was 170°C, whereas typically the fuel temperature is a few degrees higher than the water temperature. As of the day of shipment, February 6, the water temperature in the Black Sea was slightly above 3°C.

«At a product temperature of 170°C and air at 2-3°C, the losses on one tanker truck are about 350 liters. That’s if you’re going to Odesa. The longer the journey, the greater the losses will be,» said a trader from Odesa.

Taking into account that the tanker holds 6,400 tons of fuel (which corresponds to 256 vehicles - ek), total losses in liters could amount to about 90,000 liters. At a price of 44.10 UAH/liter, at which «BRSM» sold, the losses of buyers, and consequently the additional profit of the seller, would amount to about 4 million UAH.

«Initially, the diesel temperature was not specified. We didn’t even think it needed to be controlled because everyone is currently loading within the range of 4-5°C, and that’s the norm. When noticed, they immediately contacted «BRSM», but didn’t receive a logical explanation from them,» recounted another affected trader from Kyiv.

According to him, the only explanation was that at the time of loading the vessel, the temperature was +240°C, and the reduction to +170°C during delivery is normal. However, according to data from travel.org.ua, as of February 1 in Constanta, where the ship was loaded, the sea temperature was around +7°C, air — +4°C.

«What was also strange was that in three vehicles, the documents showed different densities for the diesel. And +17 was in all vehicles,» added the buyer.

All the seller offered their clients was to return the fuel with an undetermined refund period for it. Meanwhile, all issues were postponed to Monday by the managers, citing preparation for a corporate party in honor of the 33rd anniversary of «BRSM».

«But no one will refund the expenses incurred on logistics. We are a small company, so losing money on an idle run of the vehicle is very painful for us,» said a Kyiv company representative.

Traders operating in the south report that at the beginning of February there was a shortage of resources at the Danube terminals. «We go around «BRSM» filling stations and never bought in bulk. Like most reputable traders. But due to technical difficulties in Constanta, the arrival of several vessels was delayed by a week, so traders, including us, had to look for a temporary replacement. And we found one,» said an affected businessman.

Operators of the southern market front say that cases of selling warm, low-density products have occurred before, but traders with a long history do not remember a difference of 14°C with the water temperature. It is not exactly known how «BRSM» managed to heat the product to 170°C. Buyers speculate that the ship from which the shipment was made is equipped with heating elements (TEN) to heat and reduce the viscosity of the oil.

Deceived buyers have already contacted the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and a laboratory for expertise.