WA becomes first State to remove lead from petrol under new fuel regulations

4/1/00

Western Australia has become the first State to remove lead from petrol under new fuel regulations designed to make Perth the clean fuel city of Australia.
Premier Richard Court today said the Clean Fuel Regulations, which came into effect on January 1, had seen the removal of lead from petrol, a reduction in the sulphur content of diesel fuel and a reduction of benzene in petrol.
"Traditional leaded fuel has been replaced with unleaded fuel containing a special additive allowing vehicles that currently use leaded fuel to run as usual," the Premier said.
"These regulations are a significant step in cutting the amount of air pollution from motor vehicles.
"The removal of lead and the reduction of sulphur and benzene from Perth's fuel supply will help achieve our vision of providing a cleaner environment for all Western Australians.
"We are also leading the rest of Australia in terms of having the cleanest fuels and minimising the health and environmental effects."
The regulations have seen the permissible sulphur content of diesel fuel reduce from 5,000 parts per million to what is known as low sulphur diesel with a sulphur content of 500 parts per million. This brings WA into line with Euro II standards.
"Supply and use of low sulphur diesel is now mandatory for all service stations and supply points south of the 25th parallel,"Mr Court said.
He said WA would continue to set the national standard by moving to the State-wide use of low sulphur diesel by the year 2001.
The new regulations include the following environmental protection measures:

• the phasing out of leaded petrol, to be replaced with an unleaded fuel with a special additive which can be used in older cars;
• reducing the amount of sulphur in diesel fuel to cut the amount of particulate (inhalable particles) haze which can cause health problems;
• reducing the amount of benzene, which is a known carcinogen;
• minimising the amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in petrol to prevent contamination of groundwater - an important source of Perth's drinking water supply; and -
• reducing the vapour pressure of petrol over summer which will decrease the amount of petrol vapours released into the air on hot days and help reduce smog.

Mr Court said the new fuel specifications had been prepared in consultation with oil companies operating in WA, as well as the RAC and the Motor Traders Association.
Media contact: Bronwyn Hillman 9222 9475