NEA to set limits on petrol and diesel additives next year

Straits Times 25 Jul 18;

The National Environment Agency (NEA) will regulate additional fuel quality parameters and additives in petrol and diesel from July 1 next year.

This is part of NEA's ongoing efforts to improve Singapore's ambient air quality and safeguard public health, the agency said yesterday.

Among the new regulations are limits for methanol, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), phosphorus, and fatty acid methyl ester (Fame) additives in petrol and diesel.

These additives have negative effects on the environment and public health when added to petrol and diesel, NEA said.

Methanol produces toxic substances such as formaldehyde, which can cause cancer.

Manganese and phosphorous can damage the catalytic converters in petrol vehicles, causing higher emissions over time.

Fame may increase the emission of nitrogen oxides from diesel vehicles. Nitrogen oxides increase the risk of respiratory infection in humans and react with other compounds to form ozone, a greenhouse gas.

The Government will review the carbon tax rate by 2023, with plans to increase it to between $10 and $15 per tonne of emissions by 2030.

Methanol will be limited to a maximum of 3 per cent volume for petrol, while MMT will be limited to 2mg a litre of both petrol and diesel.

Phosphorus shall not be added to petrol, NEA said. Fame will be limited to a maximum of 7 per cent volume of diesel.

NEA said that it regularly reviews and tightens vehicular emission standards, as well as fuel quality standards for automotive use under the Environmental Protection and Management (Vehicular Emission) Regulations.

All petrol and diesel sold at petrol stations and other authorised outlets must comply with the new limits by July 1 next year, it said.