9 November
2006 - The Australian Government has moved a step
closer to setting quality standards for diesel/biodiesel
blended fuels with the release of a discussion
paper on the issue.
Australian Minister for the
Environment and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell,
said the discussion paper sets out and assesses
the technical issues relating to diesel/biodiesel
blends and canvasses a number of potential management
options.
“Currently fuel quality standards
exist for petroleum diesel and for biodiesel,
but not for blends of the two,” Senator Campbell
said.
“As part of the Australian Government’s
continuing work to improve air quality and deliver
cleaner fuels, the Government has been systematically
establishing national quality standards for a
number of different fuels.
“The purpose of fuel standards
is to minimise the impact that fuels have on our
atmosphere and, consequently, on the air that
we breathe.
“Developing quality standards
for these types of fuels is also an important
measure to help address market barriers and consumer
confidence in the biofuels industry.
“The discussion paper, Standardising
Diesel/Biodiesel Blends, does not put forward
a Government position. It seeks comment from all
stakeholders on how best to address these issues
and to standardise diesel/biodiesel blends in
the Australian market.
“I invite all interested parties
to submit their opinions on this issue,” Senator
Campbell said. “By doing so they will be contributing
to the development of quality standards for diesel/biodiesel
blended fuels.”
Comments on the discussion paper
can be submitted until January 2007. They will
then be reviewed and a Government position will
be drafted and released for further public comment.
A copy of the paper can be found
at: www.deh.gov.au.
Rob Broadfield
