Fuel quality is now seen as not only necessary to eliminate or reduce certain pollutants, such as lead, but also as a precondition for the introduction of many important vehicle emission control technologies, such as catalytic converters and diesel particulate filters.
Therefore, in order to achieve cleaner urban air quality, a holistic, integrated approach is required that involves the introduction of cleaner fuels that enable the introduction of cleaner vehicle technology, together with other measures such as traffic management schemes and car sharing.
Cleaner Fuels Implementation
Clean Fuels I
The new petrol specifications prohibited the use of lead in unleaded petrol, while still permitting limited use of alternative metals such as manganese and phosphorus in metal-containing unleaded petrol (lead replacement petrol), to support older vehicles that could experience valve seat recession following the removal of lead.
The revised diesel specifications reduced maximum sulphur content from 3 000 ppm to 500 ppm and introduced a lower sulphur grade of 50 ppm for specific applications. These changes contributed to significant improvements in diesel exhaust emissions and overall air quality.
However, the substantial refinery modifications required, combined with the timing of implementation, resulted in some fuel supply disruptions during the transition period. The lessons from this experience will be applied to future fuel specification changes to minimise the risk of supply interruptions.
Clean Fuels II
The Government Gazette of 24 June 2022 mandated the implementation of Clean Fuels II with effect from 1 July 2027. From this date, all petrol and diesel sold in South Africa will be required to comply with the regulations published on 31 August 2021, as well as the applicable South African National Standards for petrol (SANS 1598) and diesel (SANS 342).
In practice, this programme requires petrol and diesel to contain a maximum sulphur level of 10 ppm, together with other specified parameter changes. The introduction of these standards will enable new vehicle technologies to achieve Euro 5 tailpipe emission performance and, in many cases, exceed these requirements.
Planning for Clean Fuels II implementation has been undertaken individually by operating companies in South Africa. In the absence of formal cost recovery mechanisms, the industry has nonetheless committed significant investment—amounting to billions of rand—in refinery upgrades to ensure readiness for the 2027 compliance date.
Current Status of Cleaner Fuels
Regulations regarding the introduction of Cleaner Fuels II were gazetted in June 2012 which indicated it would come into operation on 1 July 2017. These regulations, among other things, require that sulphur levels in both petrol and diesel be reduced to 10ppm. The regulations also require other specifications to conform to such as those contained in the national standards for petrol and diesel. These specifications are currently being finalised. The target date of July 2017 has been postponed to a date to be determined in the future, once various aspects relating to the financial implications of producing the cleaner fuels have been finalised. In the meantime, in order to provide cleaner fuels for those new technology vehicles that require this fuel, initiatives are being investigated to determine whether it is possible to bring in fuels with certain upgraded specifications at an earlier date.
Benefits of Clean Fuels
1. Improved Air Quality and Health
- Major reduction in harmful pollutants
- Leads to lower rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases
- Reduces urban smog and improves overall air quality
2. Enabling Advanced Vehicle Emission Controls
- Essential for proper functioning of modern technologies
- Diesel particulate filters
- Catalytic converters
- Selective catalytic reduction systems
- Prevents damage and premature failure of emission control systems
- Enables compliance with Euro 5 standards
3. Lower Environmental Impact
- Reduction in acid rain due to lower sulphur content
- Lower black carbon emissions (climate benefits)
- Reduced soil and water contamination
4. Improved Engine Performance and Efficiency
- Cleaner combustion reduces deposits and wear
- Improves fuel efficiency and durability
- Lowers maintenance and operating costs
5. Climate and Energy System Benefits
- Supports transition to lower-emission transport systems
- Enables integration with newer fleets and future fuels
- Contributes to greenhouse gas reduction strategies
Cleaner fuels aligned with Euro 5 specifications are a critical enabler of modern transport systems, delivering substantial air quality improvements, health benefits, better engine performance, and compliance with advanced vehicle emission technologies, while supporting broader environmental and regulatory objectives.
