New Air and Fuel Quality Laboratory: A First in TRNC
New Air and Fuel Quality Laboratory Established in the TRNC
The Environmental Protection Department in the TRNC has recently announced the establishment of an Air and Fuel Quality Laboratory with funding from the European Union. This laboratory is the first and only one of its kind in the TRNC. Its purpose is to ensure that imported fuels, including charcoal, meet national and international criteria and do not harm the environment or human health.
In a recent analysis conducted by the laboratory, charcoal from three importers was found to be objectionable and was not allowed to enter the country. The Deputy Prime Minister’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment stated that fuels imported into the country, including charcoal, must receive conformity approval from the Environmental Protection Department. Without this approval, fuel importation is prohibited.
The laboratory conducts various analyses to determine the quality of fuels. For coals imported for industrial use, such as hard coal and lignite coal, the sulfur content must be less than 1%. The sulfur content analysis for fuel oil imported for Power Plants also needs to meet this limit. Additionally, the laboratory analyzes the fixed carbon, moisture, and ash content of imported charcoal and charcoal briquettes according to TSE standards.
The establishment of this laboratory is a significant milestone for the TRNC, as it is the first and only laboratory in the country that conducts solid and liquid fuel analysis and air quality environmental analysis. The Environmental Protection Agency provides import conformity opinions based on the analysis reports submitted by importers. However, with the commissioning of this laboratory, samples taken by the department from the customs gates are analyzed, and only fuels with appropriate results are allowed to enter the country.
To ensure the accuracy of the analyses conducted in the laboratory, regular parallel analyses are carried out in accredited laboratories in Turkey. This verification process enhances the reliability of the analyses performed within the Environmental Protection Department.
Since the commissioning of the fuel quality laboratory, three importers’ charcoal products have failed to meet the relevant standards based on the analysis results. Consequently, these products have not been approved for importation into the country.
The establishment of the Air and Fuel Quality Laboratory demonstrates the TRNC’s commitment to protecting the environment and human health by ensuring the quality of imported fuels. This development will contribute to creating a healthier and cleaner environment in the country.
(TAK/BRT)
