SA to use cleaner fuels from 2006
1 April 2005
Leaded petrol will no longer be available in South Africa from 2006, while diesel users will have to use a new lower sulphur grade of the fuel, the Department of Minerals and Energy announced on Thursday.
From 1 January 2006, South African motorists will be able to choose between 91, 93 and 95-octane unleaded petrol. For certain older vehicles, a lead replacement petrol (93-octane inland, 95 octane in coastal areas) will be introduced.
The sulphur level of standard diesel will drop from the current maximum of 3 000ppm (parts per million) to 500ppm. A second grade of diesel with a sulphur level of 50ppm will also be available from certain service stations.
The National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of SA (Naamsa) has welcomed the move, saying it will contribute to a cleaner environment, promote better fuel efficiency, and bring South Africa more in line with international standards.
"Vehicles, both petrol and diesel, emit
significant quantities of nitrogen and sulphur oxides, carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons", Naamsa said in a statement. "These pollutants can be reduced by adopting lower sulphur and metal-free fuels, and at the same time integrating this with the introduction of new vehicle technology and emission control devices."
The new unleaded petrol octane structure will allow for the marketing of 95-octane unleaded petrol inland (ie, in areas higher than 1 200 metres above sea level) for the first time.
According to Naamsa, general availability of 95-octane unleaded petrol is required to support the introduction of the latest "European" specification petrol vehicles, which are increasingly designed for 95-octane unleaded fuel operation.
Most vehicles, however, can use a lower octane petrol inland than at the coast. To discourage octane wastage inland - and avoid the additional costs to the country of producing higher octane grades - a levy will be charged on 95-octane fuel
inland.
There will be no price differentials between unleaded petrol and lead replacement petrol of the same octane level.
According to SA Petroleum Industry Association director Colin McClelland, users of higher sulphur content diesel should expect to pay about 10 cents a litre more when they switch to lower sulphur content diesel.
This is not a fixed figure, however, as fuel prices vary due to a range of factors, including changes in international fuel prices of petrol.
A database will be available on Naamsa's websitefrom about the middle of April advising motorists on which octane grade to use for which vehicle, and whether or not to use lead replacement petrol.
SouthAfrica.info reporter
| 
