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The SA government hopes to have cleaner fuels available to the public by 2013, according to energy minister Dipuo Peters.
Briefing the media at parliament on the Clean Fuels Two (CF2) draft fuel specifications and standards, she said full introduction was expected by 2017.
CF2 is the equivalent of the current European Emissions Standard Five specifications (Euro V).
Peters said the modernisation of South Africa's liquid fuels was a continuation of the process that in 2006 resulted in a ban on lead in all grades of petrol and the reduction of sulphur levels in diesel from 3000 to 500 parts per million (ppm).
Among others, allowable levels of benzene - a carcinogen - would be reduced from five to one percent and sulphur from 500 to 10ppm.
MORE-EFFICIENT ENGINES
Environmental concerns and the need to enable more advanced combustion engines on SA's roads were two of the reasons given for the draft specifications. Lower levels of sulphur would allow the introduction of more-efficient engines with less carbon dioxide emissions.
It was expected that the cleaner fuels should be available initially through, among others, imports as petroleum products were already being imported.
The gas-to-liquids (GTL) and coal-to-liquids (CTL) facilities would be able to produce some components of the cleaner fuels but some blending components might be necessary.
Peters said: "We would want these fuels to be available as soon as 2013. We expect the refineries will take turns in upgrading to be able to produce cleaner fuels and that the last refinery conversion should be completed by 2017."
Cost recovery would be a subject of discussion once a thorough determination of costs and benefits for each refinery had been done, although differentiated taxes remained a possibility.
"For the vehicle manufacturers, we would want this to be an opportunity for more advanced engines to be fitted into the vehicle pool of South Africa," Peters added. It is, in fact, something all automakers have been pleading for for years.
60 DAYS TO COMMENT
"We will allow for a comment period of 60 days after which the comments will be considered and the document will be finalised," Peters continued.
Hydrocarbons chief director Muzi Mkhize told the briefing the rationale included economic benefits, such as enabling vehicle manufacturers to export technologically advanced vehicles, fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs for vehicle owners.
The proposed changes include reducing the sulphur content in both petrol and diesel from 500ppm to 10ppm, benzene from five to one percent, aromatics from 50 to 35 percent and vapour pressure from 45-75 to 45-65kPa maximum, with a 5kPa waiver allowed when bio-ethanol is used.
The current octanes will remain the same.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
The South African Petroleum Industry Association welcomed the release of the draft specifications and standards.
"Sapia will thoroughly consider the draft position paper and make submissions to the department," the association said. "The industry is going to play an active role in finalising future fuel specifications and standards for South Africa."
Briefing the media at parliament on the Clean Fuels Two (CF2) draft fuel specifications and standards, she said full introduction was expected by 2017.
CF2 is the equivalent of the current European Emissions Standard Five specifications (Euro V).
Peters said the modernisation of South Africa's liquid fuels was a continuation of the process that in 2006 resulted in a ban on lead in all grades of petrol and the reduction of sulphur levels in diesel from 3000 to 500 parts per million (ppm).
Among others, allowable levels of benzene - a carcinogen - would be reduced from five to one percent and sulphur from 500 to 10ppm.
MORE-EFFICIENT ENGINES
Environmental concerns and the need to enable more advanced combustion engines on SA's roads were two of the reasons given for the draft specifications. Lower levels of sulphur would allow the introduction of more-efficient engines with less carbon dioxide emissions.
It was expected that the cleaner fuels should be available initially through, among others, imports as petroleum products were already being imported.
The gas-to-liquids (GTL) and coal-to-liquids (CTL) facilities would be able to produce some components of the cleaner fuels but some blending components might be necessary.
Peters said: "We would want these fuels to be available as soon as 2013. We expect the refineries will take turns in upgrading to be able to produce cleaner fuels and that the last refinery conversion should be completed by 2017."
Cost recovery would be a subject of discussion once a thorough determination of costs and benefits for each refinery had been done, although differentiated taxes remained a possibility.
"For the vehicle manufacturers, we would want this to be an opportunity for more advanced engines to be fitted into the vehicle pool of South Africa," Peters added. It is, in fact, something all automakers have been pleading for for years.
60 DAYS TO COMMENT
"We will allow for a comment period of 60 days after which the comments will be considered and the document will be finalised," Peters continued.
Hydrocarbons chief director Muzi Mkhize told the briefing the rationale included economic benefits, such as enabling vehicle manufacturers to export technologically advanced vehicles, fuel efficiency and lower maintenance costs for vehicle owners.
The proposed changes include reducing the sulphur content in both petrol and diesel from 500ppm to 10ppm, benzene from five to one percent, aromatics from 50 to 35 percent and vapour pressure from 45-75 to 45-65kPa maximum, with a 5kPa waiver allowed when bio-ethanol is used.
The current octanes will remain the same.
INDUSTRY SUPPORT
The South African Petroleum Industry Association welcomed the release of the draft specifications and standards.
"Sapia will thoroughly consider the draft position paper and make submissions to the department," the association said. "The industry is going to play an active role in finalising future fuel specifications and standards for South Africa."