Interview: Georgios Topsis, Commercial Director in OKTA

G.Topsis: OKTA as the main supplier on the domestic fuel market and the biggest stock keeper of the State Reserves, has the appropriate infrastructure, technical specialisation and developed system that enables control of the fuels throughout the entire supply chain. Through strictly defined procedures and protocols, that apart from the legally established controls, encompass additional checks, we continuously monitor the quality of fuels from the refinery where it is loaded until its delivery to the final consumer. In the past six years, the unique and comprehensive approach that we have developed under the sign of the “Program Guarantee” is impeccably applied, distinguishing OKTA, as a company that does not make any compromise when it comes to the quality of fuels we sell, not only on the domestic, but also on the neighboring markets. OKTA as a leader in the industry, decided to implement the Program in order to contribute on raising the awareness of its customers and protecting them from fuel quality related issues. I would like to point out that this program has been implemented in most of the countries where the Hellenic Petroleum Group is present and we have excellent results. 

G.Topsis: In brief, the “Program Guarantee”, carries out controls in five steps, with the help of three independent controls, and the whole process has one goal – to fortify the consumers’ confidence. Namely, the first control of the fuel that you buy at OKTA branded petrol stations, starts in the refinery in Greece, where its quality is checked in an accredited laboratory. After loading, an independent control house installs seals on all tank truck, to provide security of the fuel while it’s transported to the OKTA tank farm. Throughout the whole transportation, the movement of the tank trucks is continuously monitored in real-time with GPS, which represents the second step of the control process. The third checkpoint is carried out during the storage of the fuel in OKTA’s tank farm. After arrival in OKTA’s installation, the quality of the fuel in the tank trucks is rechecked by an external independent control house. Then the fuel is stored in the tank farm and its quality is retested in OKTA’s accredited laboratory. It should be highlighted that the submitted samples for testing in the laboratory are always encrypted, thus achieving independence and objectivity in the issuance of both the results and Quality Certificate.



The fourth control step is performed before the delivery of the fuel from our tank farm to OKTA petrol stations. An external independent control house checks each tank truck in which fuels are to be transported, before and after loading, to determine whether there is sediment, water or residue from another derivative. Upon successful implementation of this control, the tank trucks are sealed and receive Quality Certificate for the loaded fuel. The last, fifth point of check is performed directly at OKTA petrol stations. A mobile laboratory managed by a team of independent controllers, specially trained for this purpose, performs regular and unannounced controls of the quality and quantity of the fuels available at the entire retail network of OKTA. The procedure includes volumetric checks of the fuel dispensers, while fuel quality analyses are performed directly at petrol stations, but also in laboratory conditions. Upon completion of the check and confirmation of the quality and quantity of the fuels, the dispensers are sealed with a yellow sticker “Checked”, while each petrol station that has successfully passed the test receives an appropriate certificate. 

Considering all the above said, we can responsibly state that at OKTA branded petrol stations our consumers can always be confident about every liter. 

G.Topsis: So far, the results obtained by conducting more than 4.000 checks, made directly at the petrol stations dispensers, are just another confirmation of OKTA’s consistent and stable approach in ensuring quality and maximal value for its consumers. The consumers, and the general public have already recognized the importance of the yellow sticker “Checked” and feel protected and safe for every liter, because the program guarantees that OKTA fuels are checked to the last drop, at all stages of the supply chain. We feel proud to confess, that all of us in OKTA, we enjoy the full trust and loyalty among our customers and consumers. We believe that through the long-term application of the program we have managed to set new standards on the market and have contributed towards raising awareness about the quality and quantity of fuels, as well as consumers’ protection.

G.Topsis: This example proves how important the quality control of the product placed on the market is. The highest priority is the public interest and the care for the community we all live in. The methodology of the “Program Guarantee” can serve as an example for the development of such programs that will improve and enhance the quality control of fuels placed on the domestic market. Off course, we at OKTA are ready to assist with our thorough expertise in this area.