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EU slashes sulphur content in road fuels from 2005 |
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| UK: February 3, 2003 | ||
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BRUSSELS - The European Union has passed a law requiring much lower amounts of sulphur in petrol and diesel by 2005, with a total phase in of "sulphur free" fuels by 2009, the European Parliament said.
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The final approval of the law follows years of debate by EU lawmakers on the timetable for making cleaner fuels more widely available, in an attempt to reduce air pollution. The law will set a maximum level of 50 parts per million of sulphur by January 1, 2005, compared with current limits of 150 ppm for petrol (gasoline) and 350 ppm in diesel. EU governments will have to ensure some 10 ppm fuel is available from 2005. All road fuels must be that clean by 2009. Refinery industry body Europia said the shift from 50 to 10 ppm would cost the sector $11 billion. Europia's Bruno Celard said the industry was prepared for the move: "It's become law, so of course we will meet it." Sulphur limits for non-road machinery will be reviewed by EU lawmakers in 2005.
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REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
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