ISLAMABAD, Nov 24: The petroleum ministry has asked the Economic Affairs Division to establish a centre for cleaner fuel production and other related activities.

This was stated by the petroleum and natural resources secretary, Abdullah Yousaf, at the launching of the UN statement on cleaner fuel production in Pakistan on Thursday.

“The UNDP has provided project formulation funds, and an international level full-scale project document has been finalized, but the donor funding on cost-sharing basis is still required”, he said.

The ministry, he said, in collaboration with the World Bank, held two workshops in 1995 and 1997 to deal with the introduction of clean fuel in the country.

The 1997 workshop had agreed on a specific programme to reduce pollutants in gasoline, diesel and fuel oil. The revised targets included introduction of 87RON gasoline with 0.35g/l lead by the end of 1998; reduction of lead level to 0.15g/l by 2003 and its complete phasing out by 2005; lowering sulphur level in high-speed diesel to 0.5 wt per cent, and in fuel oil to 2.0 wt per cent by 2000, the secretary emphasised.

He said, till the end of September 2000, two grades of gasoline were being marketed in the country — regular gasoline, having 80RON with 0.42 g/l lead, and premium gasoline, carrying 87RON with a lead content of 0.35 g/l.

Under the petroleum ministry’s directives, effective from October 2000, all the refineries have been producing a mono-grade premium gasoline that contains 0.35 g/l lead. This will help reduce the emission of lead to a certain level, Mr Yousaf added.

In 1999, the World Bank, he explained, on behalf of the government, commissioned Chem Systems Ltd to undertake a study on the feasibility and implications of improving quality of petroleum products in Pakistan. The findings of the study were presented before the government on March 29, 2001.

These were: reduce lead in gasoline from 0.35 per cent to zero per cent and increase octane rating; reduce aromatic contents to maximum 42 per cent volume and benzene to a level of maximum 5 per cent volume.

According to another finding, the option of change in crude oil and modification in refinery configuration to produce low- sulphur high-speed diesel and fuel oil will require millions of dollars. Chem System does not recommend it as the investment is high and benefits are low.

The sulphur in diesel can be reduced from one to 0.5 per cent through establishing blending facilities at Keamari and Machike, the secretary said.

The ministry has emphasized the importance of introduction of clean fuel in the country as early as possible, adding, that focus must be on refineries’ upgradation to meet production of unleaded gasoline and sulphur reduction in diesel.

The targets outlined by the ministry in this regard are: introduction of unleaded gasoline with maximum volume limit of benzene, and aromatic should be introduced with immediate effect; a clear road map for achieving 0.5 per cent sulphur in diesel should be developed at the earliest.

The secretary said, “we appreciate the initiative taken by the UN for formulating a statement on cleaner fuel production. We feel the statement is consistent with the UN commitment to address pollution in the fuel sector”.

This statement is an admirable initiative in awareness raising, and is also an important millstone in the partnership between UN, refineries, and the government of Pakistan in producing clean fuels in the country, he added.