Most non-EU European & bordering countries aim to adopt ULSD specifications anyway

Diesel Fuel News, July 21, 2003

According to a recent resolution adopted by European Conference of Ministers of Transport (see Diesel Fuel News 5/12/03, p8), even countries not currently members of European Union (EU) nevertheless plan to adopt ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) specifications, according to International Fuel Quality Center (IFQC, a Hart Downstream Energy Group division).

Citing a new European Conference of Ministers of Transport report, IFQC points out that Central and Eastern Europe countries planning to become members of EU are in process of adopting 50-ppm sulfur ULSD (and 10-ppm sulfur ULSD availability) by 2005. Turkey likewise could copy that move ("subject to market conditions"), while Russia aims to debut ULSD along major transport corridors (see Diesel Fuel News 6/9/03, p5), also around 2005. Countries with specific ULSD plans include Bulgaria (2007), Czech Republic (2005), Hungary (2005), Latvia (2005), Lithuania (2005), Malta (2005), Norway (2005), Poland (2005), Romania (2007), Slovakia (2005) and Slovenia (2005). Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland and UK all have given refiners fiscal incentives for ULSD, the report notes. More info: Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, IFQC, sdixson@chemweek.com