The Guyana Energy Agency (GEA) has begun using its new Mobile Fuel Quality Lab to test imported fuel before it is discharged into onshore storage tanks, as the agency strengthens its monitoring of fuel entering the country.
The mobile laboratory was recently deployed to the Guyoil Compound at Providence, East Bank Demerara, where fuel inspectors awaited the arrival of a vessel to collect samples for testing and analysis.
Inspectors Cindy Williams-Paddy and Nikita Shung-Niles used instruments, including the LQX 1000 infrared spectrometer and Malvern Epsilon XRF analyser, to assess the fuel’s properties, including its sulfur content, before it was transferred into Guyoil’s storage tanks.
The testing exercise forms part of the GEA’s efforts to improve fuel quality monitoring at the point of entry, allowing samples to be assessed before imported fuel enters storage facilities.
The mobile laboratory will support testing of fuel imported by all importers and complement the agency’s existing stationary laboratory at its office.
The deployment follows a two-week training programme in which GEA fuel inspectors received theoretical and practical instruction in operating the new equipment and conducting fuel quality assessments. The training was facilitated by a team from Authentix comprising Senior Programme Manager Asam Rashid, Senior Solutions Engineer Saul Pacheco and In-Country Manager Khushie Narine.
A key instrument is the LQX 1000, which uses infrared spectroscopy to measure fuel properties such as density and benzene content in accordance with ASTM International standards and applicable Guyana National Bureau of Standards requirements.
It also uses predictive modelling to estimate other fuel characteristics, including the Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON) for gasoline. These measurements are used to calculate the Anti-Knock Index (AKI), which indicates gasoline’s resistance to engine knocking. For diesel, the instrument estimates the cetane number, which indicates how readily the fuel ignites under compression.
The Malvern Epsilon XRF analyser measures sulfur content in gasoline and diesel, while an ASTM Colour Chart is used to assess fuel colour and cloudiness. Other equipment includes a viscometer to measure how easily fuel flows and a flash point tester to determine the temperature at which diesel vapours can ignite.
Inspectors operate the LQX 1000 using a tablet and record results through Authentix’s Field Sample Manager (FSM) software.
Beyond individual tests, the data collected will be used to develop a database documenting the specifications and quality characteristics of fuel imported into Guyana. The database is expected to provide the GEA with a record of imported fuel and support its ongoing monitoring and analysis.
Following the training, inspectors completed a written examination and are expected to receive certification to conduct field tests using the new instruments.
The mobile laboratory adds a field-testing capability to the GEA’s existing arrangements, enabling the agency to assess fuel at import terminals before it is discharged into storage tanks.
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