Japan, China moving to slash diesel emissions, desulfurize fuel

Diesel Fuel News, Jan 21, 2002

Having moved ahead with agreements to make a 50 parts per million ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) widely available next year, Japan's refiners are now discussing with government the potential to convert to 100% 10 ppm sulfure ULSD by 2008, according to a new report by international air pollution control consultant Mike Walsh.

Refiners earlier agreed to supply 50 ppm ULSD for greater metro Tokyo by April 1, 2003, as well as more than half of Japan by October 2003 (see Diesel Fuel News 12/01/2001, p8). Japan'' refiners will convert to 100% 50 ppm ULSD by year-end 2004, Walsh said. ULSD conversion will enable massive diesel particulate filter (DPF) vehicle retrofits as required by Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG) next year, as well as DPFs on new vehicles.

DPF systems approved so far include a Comotec unit with electric plug-in regeneration, a Mitsui/Johnson-Matthey continuously regenerating system, a Nabco/Engelhard DPF, three versions of a Unicat DPF and a Tadano unit for certain trucks.

Retrofits must be completed by Oct. 1, 2003, hence the urgency to get Japan's refiners to convert to ULSD production next year. Showa Shell, ExxonMobil Japan, Nippon Mitsubishi, Jomo, Cosmo and Idemitsu refiners have all agreed in principle to supply 50 ppm ULSD for Tokyo, Kanagaw, Chiba and Saitama from April 2, 2003, he said.

"TMG estimates that about 40,000 DPFs and an undetermined number of diesel oxidation catalysts [DOCs] will need to be retrofitted by Oct. 1, 2003 in Tokyo alone," Walsh said. "About 10,000 of those vehicles are in centrally fuelled fleets and will be able to be retrofitted prior to April 1, 2003 because they will be in a position to assure the correct fuel quality.

"Several other prefectures including Saitama, Chiba and Kanagawa are in various stages of adopting requirements similar to Tokyo's and are expected to have them in place in sufficient time to have retrofits occur on the same schedule as Tokyo."

Meantime, "the requirement that all new diesel vehicles sold in Japan by 2005 will be equipped with DPFs remains on track," he said. "However, there is movement toward even earlier introductions with some models. Toyota has announced that it will sell certain light trucks, which meet the long-term PM standard (the 2005 standard) equipped with DPFs by October 2003; these include their Toyo-Ace and Dyna models in the 4-to-6-ton size range. Hino will sell its similar light truck, Dutro, with identical systems in the same time frame.

"Mitsubishi and Hino are inclined to equip their 8-ton trucks with DPFs by December 2003 if Isuzu can be persuaded to do the same; at present Isuzu is holding out for April 2004. Discussions are underway with Nissan Diesel as well," Walsh said. (Info: walshcarlines.com).

* China Moving, ULSD Possible

Meantime, cutting sulfur in motor fuels, including diesel, is the "next big topic" in China, Walsh reports, citing China state environmental protection agency (SEPA) sources. While China's diesel fuel today contains about 2,000 ppm sulfur, SEPA would like to have "at least some 500 ppm diesel available" by 2003.

Sinopec and Petrochina have submitted five-year plans to the State Council to improve fuel quality. Sinopec issued a "city diesel fuel" specification last year with a 300 ppm sulfur limit and a 50 cetane number minimum, and aims to introduce such a fuel by end-2003 or early 2004 in metropolitan areas.

"Further development of diesel fuel specifications focuses on reducing maximum sulfur content down to 50 ppm, which is the level needed to introduce Euro 4 and Euro 5 emissions limits," Walsh said.

On related fronts, China has instituted tax rebates for three automakers (GM, VW and Citroen ventures in China) meeting Euro II emissions standards, part of a "broader push to bring all cars up the standard by 2004," he said. Meantime, Beijing's municipal environmental protection bureau "has developed a plan to introduce Euro III standards for light duty vehicles in 2005 and heavy-duty vehicles in 2006.

"Local authorities have been assured by the oil industry that fuel of sufficient quality would be made available in Beijing if the [vehicle] standards were approved. If low-sulfur diesel fuel were made available, this would also open up opportunities for new diesel vehicles and engines to be sold, as Beijing had previously banned the sale of any new diesel vehicles unless they comply with Euro III standards."