GO NGV & YOU ARE HELPING TO KEEP THE PLANET GREEN !!!

Today I wanted to share with you something that I came across while searching for information on High Speed Diesel in USA.

High speed diesel (D2) is one of the most important fuel used in America and of course in all parts of the world. They are used everywhere especially by trucks, trains, buses, industries and many more. In USA heavy agriculture machineries depend on D2 to keep them going. When D2 are burned, the exhaust fumes will generate lots of pollutants that contaminate our environment. The more the sulphur content the more will there this dangerous sulphur dioxide in the air.

My objective to search for this articles is to confirm that by June 2006, all D2 imported into America must meet the latest low sulphur ratio requirements. Current D2 sulphur content is within 3000 to 500 parts per million.

What happened next is what I would like to share with you.

I quickly open my Google search engine and typed "diesel regulations". The result is outstanding. I choose item number three "US Department of state: New Diesel regulations will bring cleaner air".

What I see is what you should also see.

The Americans have passed a bill and approved by the President that by June 2006, a tough law is to be implemented to reduce emission level by 90%. Sulphur content will be slashed by 99%.

Quote:

In 2000, EPA ( US Environment Protection Agency), moved forward on schedule with its rule to make heavy duty trucks, buses and heavy machineries to run cleaner. These vehicles which will be ready with new model in year 2007, will cut harmful emission by 95%. Sulphur in Diesel fuel must be lowered to enable modern pollution control technology to be effective on these trucks and buses. The agency will required a 97% reduction in sulphur content of highway diesel fuel from it current level of 500 parts per million (ppt) to 15 ppt.

Once this action is implemented 2.6 million tons of smog causing nitrogen oxide emission will be reduce each year. Soot or particulate matter will be reduced by 110,000 tons a year. An estimated 8,300 premature deaths, 5,500 cases of chronic bronchitis and 17,600 cases of acute bronchitis in children will also be prevented annually. It is also estimated to help avoid more than 360,000 asthma attacks and 386,000 cases of respiratory symptoms in asthmatic children every year. In addition, 1.5 million lost work days, 7,100 hospital visits and 2,400 emergency room visits for asthma will be prevented.

Significant lead time is provided in the rule for the introduction of new cleaner fuel into the marketplace. Engine manufacturers will have flexibility to meet the new standards through a phase-in approach between 2007 and 2010. The fuel provision will go into effect in June 2006 and will be phased-in through 2009. The program also includes various flexible approaches, including additional time for some refiners and special provisions for small refiners.

UNQUOTE

A very tough law but once implemented, the saving on public health is tremendous. It was estimated the saving on health related bill is US80 billion a year. This is not surprising since medical finding is pointing that air pollution is one of the main cause of lung cancer.

To make such a law is very drastic and it won't be surprised that the cost of Diesel in the US will be much higher and new engine have to be developed.

Most diesel imported into USA comes from Middle East or Russia. There are only three types of D2 available in the market Type 1 with sulphur content between 0.2 -0.5, Type 2 with sulphur content between 0.02 to 0.05 and Type 3 with sulphur content of Max 0.3. Type 1 and 2 is of Russian Origin while type 3 is PETRONAS.

The American is looking at a new type where the sulphur content must be within 0.0125% sulphur. This will be a super class, Super Low Sulphur Grade, while we Malaysian or PETRONAS have no plan to do that.

PETRONAS will stick to 0.3 Max and I am sure only the Government can make any drastic change to implement a new ruling. I doubt there will be any change even 10 years after june 2006.

According to the transport ministery we have not less then 450,000 commercial vehicles registered in Malaysia. All these vehicles are using Diesel as their fuel. All of them are using local diesel with 0.3 max sulphur. Each day these class of vehicle are spewing out tons of smog and soot plus many other toxic materials into the air we breath in.

So what can we do to reduce the air pollution what we breath in? My answer is Go NGV. This is also one of the recommended solution by the EPA.

No one will champion this cause but all of us can by going NGV.