The European Commission will propose stricter environmental standards for fuel and will require a drop in emissions from oil exploration and transport as part of the fight against global change, a proposal set for release on Wednesday shows. A draft Commission proposal obtained by Reuters says oil companies will be required to monitor greenhouse gas emissions that result from harvesting, refining and transporting oil, which the proposal calls oil's "life cycle."

Those emissions must be reduced by 1 percent annually starting in 2011 through 2020, the proposal said. "The level of life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions per unit of energy reported in 2020 shall be no greater than 90 percent of the level reported in 2010," it said. The proposal also sets stricter environmental standards on fuel sold in the 27-nation European Union in an effort to reduce air pollution and cut back on greenhouse gas emissions.

Sulphur content in diesel would be limited to 10 ppm from 2009, while poly aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel would be limited to 8 percent, the draft said. The proposal also foresees a new blend of petrol with "higher permitted oxygenate content (including up to 10 percent ethanol)" to enable more use of biofuels. A spokesman for the Commission, the EU's executive branch, confirmed that the proposals would be presented on Wednesday.

The Commission will also come out with a proposal in 2007 that would require recovery of volatile organic compound (VOC) vapours at filling stations, the draft said. Vapour from VOCs contributes to air pollution.
(Planet Ark, 31/01/2007)