Beijing to implement new fuel grade standards by end of May

Beijing will begin implementing the much talked about fifth phase standards for automobile gasoline and diesel fuel on May 31, Economic Observer News reported on May 18. Once the policies are put in place, fuel with octane ratings of 90, 93 and 97 grade will be replaced by 89, 92 and 95 grade options. For the time being, fuel prices will remain the same.

According to the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau (EPB), the new fuel standards are stricter than current national guidelines. According to Li Kunsheng, director of the EPB's vehicle emissions division, the biggest different between the fourth and fifth standards is the decrease in permitted sulfur content from 50 ppm to 10 ppm. Allowed magnesium content is also decreased from .006 ppm to .002 ppm. Sulfur content is one measure of how environmentally friendly fuel is, Mr. Li said. He added that the new standards are identical to the Euro V, which came into effect in 2009.

"The large decrease in sulfur content will help further reduce the negative impact sulfur has on purifiers, [which in turn] reduces [automobile] emissions," Mr. Li explains. According to calculations, automobile emissions are responsible for 58 percent of all nitrogen oxide pollution, 40 percent of volatile organic compound pollution and 22.2 percent of all fine particle pollution in Beijing. The new standards will help reduce the impact automobile emissions have on total pollution in the city.

The China Automotive Technology and Research Center (CATRC) state that the fifth phase standards will reduce fuel emissions by 15 percent. The CATRC believes that if Beijing's 500-plus gas stations all begin using the new fuel standards, reductions of nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon and fine particle pollution rates in the city will be significant. Beijing's gas stations are to finish making the switch by June 15.

In other news, the EPB's fifth phase standards for automobile emissions are expected to be officially announced by September at earliest.