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The South African Petroleum Industry Association (SAPIA) welcomes the release of draft fuel specifications and standards by the Minister of Energy, Ms Dipuo Peters.

SAPIA will thoroughly consider the proposals contained in the draft position paper and make submission to the Department. The industry is going to play an active role in finalising future fuel specifications and standards for South Africa.

The ultimate goal of any country or region’s Cleaner Fuels Program should be to reduce harmful exhaust emissions and thus contribute to an improvement in urban air quality as well as to reduce the release of Greenhouse Gasses. A holistic and integrated approach is required in order to achieve this. This requires a combination of improved vehicle technology, the provision of cleaner fuels to enable this technology and a number of other interventions, such as the introduction of vehicle Inspection and Maintenance programs, traffic management schemes, etc.

SAPIA members have over a period of two years, undertaken reviews of international experiences in this field and commissioned independent studies to provide background information that is needed to determine the future fuel specifications that would best contribute to the desired end-goal of improved air quality in South Africa and would be best suited to South Africa’s specific local conditions. These specific conditions include: a large older vehicle population, differing geographic conditions (including a wide range of altitudes), synthetic fuels being a major part of the fuel mix, the socio-economic climate in the country, etc. This information will be used to inform SAPIA’s comments on the Discussion Document.

SAPIA believes that the process of determining to the most suitable fuel specifications for South Africa’s unique conditions should involve a multi-stakeholders process which includes the motor manufacturers, all relevant government departments, environmental NGO’s and other interested stakeholders. A speedy process is encouraged so that regulatory certainty can be obtained without further delay in order to enable the very substantial investments that will need to be made by the oil companies. The cost implications to the industry, motorists and the country also need to be thoroughly reviewed.

SAPIA looks forward to the finalisation of the fuel specifications and standards which will represent the best interests of the country as a whole.