Leaded fuel to be gone by Jan

MOTORISTS with vehicles that still use leaded petrol have the remainder of the year to learn about alternative replacement as fuel for their cars as leaded petrol is to phased out in Namibia effective January 1 2006.

This is in keeping with international trends, as almost 85 per cent of the world today is lead free. Lead was discovered to be a toxic poison that affects health and has the greatest effect on malnourished children, whose numbers are large in Africa.The decision, which has been approved by Cabinet, is accordance with the Dakar Declaration regarding cleaner fuels made in 2001 by sub-Saharan countries to remove lead from petrol.In October last year, SADC Ministers of Energy also met and agreed to end the use of leaded petrol in their respective countries.On Wednesday the Ministry of Mines and Energy launched a public awareness campaign designed to inform the public about the phasing out of leaded petrol in the Namibian market.Lead will no longer be blended into petrol.A lubricity specification will come into effect for all diesel marketed with a reduction in sulphur for improved vehicle fuel system life.The phasing out of leaded petrol will pave way for a new grade called Lead Replacement Petrol (93 RON), which will cater for certain older vehicles that ‘might be susceptible to valve seat recession when driven at high speed and under heavy load conditions’.Speaking at the ceremony held in Windhoek, Minister Erkki Nghimtina said his Ministry had budgeted N$450 000 towards the campaign which would see road users have access to information concerning the process.”From the beginning of 2006, leaded petrol will be phased out in Namibia and a new grade introduced.The decision to phase out leaded petrol…is part of a process that will see newly formulated fuels being introduced which will contribute to the improvement of urban air quality and the environment generally.”These cleaner fuels will also enable more sophisticated vehicle engine technology that is designed to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and promote improved fuel efficiency,” said Nghimtina.A booklet entitled ‘The end of leaded petrol – for a cleaner future’, which will be distributed through the local media.Information in the booklet, which is in the official English language will be translated into Otjiherero, Oshiwambo, Damara-Nama, Silozi and Afrikaans.The booklet will provide motorists guidance as to which octane grade is recommended for their particular vehicle and whether the use of lead replacement petrol is recommended.The booklet, which can also be seen at www.nolead.com.na, will give the benefits of unleaded fuel, and the essential compatibility code among other information.Nghimtina urged motorists to start making the necessary adjustments now saying change in inevitable and people should embrace it when it comes their way.He also added that in spite of these steps being made there were still challenges to be tackled regarding fuel issues.”Whilst the announced fuel quality improvements are a major step forward, further improvements particularly relating to sulphur level in unleaded petrol, will be required in the future to enable the introduction of ‘lead burn’ catalyst technology currently being introduced by a number of vehicle manufacturers in Europe.”Importantly, the introduction of the improved fuel grades will over time contribute to a cleaner environment and these developments will bring Namibia closer in line with international norms and standards,” said the Minister.Nghimtina said these changes had been effected taking into considered the need for regional (SADC) harmonisation of other technical specifications to facilitate cross border trade and tourism.An arrangement had been reached that individual countries make the necessary changes to accommodate such concerns and public education programmes be put into place.Lead was discovered to be a toxic poison that affects health and has the greatest effect on malnourished children, whose numbers are large in Africa.The decision, which has been approved by Cabinet, is accordance with the Dakar Declaration regarding cleaner fuels made in 2001 by sub-Saharan countries to remove lead from petrol.In October last year, SADC Ministers of Energy also met and agreed to end the use of leaded petrol in their respective countries.On Wednesday the Ministry of Mines and Energy launched a public awareness campaign designed to inform the public about the phasing out of leaded petrol in the Namibian market.Lead will no longer be blended into petrol.A lubricity specification will come into effect for all diesel marketed with a reduction in sulphur for improved vehicle fuel system life.The phasing out of leaded petrol will pave way for a new grade called Lead Replacement Petrol (93 RON), which will cater for certain older vehicles that ‘might be susceptible to valve seat recession when driven at high speed and under heavy load conditions’.Speaking at the ceremony held in Windhoek, Minister Erkki Nghimtina said his Ministry had budgeted N$450 000 towards the campaign which would see road users have access to information concerning the process.”From the beginning of 2006, leaded petrol will be phased out in Namibia and a new grade introduced.The decision to phase out leaded petrol…is part of a process that will see newly formulated fuels being introduced which will contribute to the improvement of urban air quality and the environment generally.”These cleaner fuels will also enable more sophisticated vehicle engine technology that is designed to reduce harmful vehicle emissions and promote improved fuel efficiency,” said Nghimtina.A booklet entitled ‘The end of leaded petrol – for a cleaner future’, which will be distributed through the local media.Information in the booklet, which is in the official English language will be translated into Otjiherero, Oshiwambo, Damara-Nama, Silozi and Afrikaans.The booklet will provide motorists guidance as to which octane grade is recommended for their particular vehicle and whether the use of lead replacement petrol is recommended.The booklet, which can also be seen at www.nolead.com.na, will give the benefits of unleaded fuel, and the essential compatibility code among other information.Nghimtina urged motorists to start making the necessary adjustments now saying change in inevitable and people should embrace it when it comes their way.He also added that in spite of these steps being made there were still challenges to be tackled regarding fuel issues.”Whilst the announced fuel quality improvements are a major step forward, further improvements particularly relating to sulphur level in unleaded petrol, will be required in the future to enable the introduction of ‘lead burn’ catalyst technology currently being introduced by a number of vehicle manufacturers in Europe.”Importantly, the introduction of the improved fuel grades will over time contribute to a cleaner environment and these developments will bring Namibia closer in line with international norms and standards,” said the Minister.Nghimtina said these changes had been effected taking into considered the need for regional (SADC) harmonisation of other technical specifications to facilitate cross border trade and tourism.An arrangement had been reached that individual countries make the necessary changes to accommodate such concerns and public education programmes be put into place.