Annexes to COM(2005)69 - Quality of petrol and diesel fuel used for road transport in the EU - Second annual report (Reporting year 2003) - Main contents
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| dossier | COM(2005)69 - Quality of petrol and diesel fuel used for road transport in the EU - Second annual report (Reporting year 2003). |
|---|---|
| document | COM(2005)69  |
| date | March 2, 2005 |
Figure 2: EU Fuel sales proportions by fuel type (%)
Petrol Sales | 2003 | Diesel Sales | 2003 |
[pic] | [pic] |
Fuel Type | % | Fuel Type | % |
Unleaded petrol min. RON=91 | 0.4% |
Unleaded petrol min. RON=91 (<50 ppm S) | 0.6% | Diesel | 44.8% |
Unleaded petrol min. RON=91 (<10 ppm S) | 8.2% |
Unleaded petrol min. RON=95 | 37.5% |
Unleaded petrol min. RON=95 (<50 ppm S) | 24.8% |
Unleaded petrol min. RON=95 (<10 ppm S) | 18.9% | Diesel (<50 ppm sulphur) | 30.3% |
Unleaded petrol 95=<RON<98 | 3.7% |
Unleaded petrol 95=<RON<98 (<50 ppm S) | 0.9% |
Unleaded petrol 95=<RON<98 (<10 ppm S) | 0.0% |
Unleaded petrol RON<=98 | 2.3% | Diesel (<10 ppm sulphur) | 24.9% |
Unleaded petrol RON<=98 (<50 ppm S) | 1.4% |
Unleaded petrol RON<=98 (<10 ppm S) | 1.2% |
As in 2001 and 2002, the largest total sales of fuels in 2003 were in Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK (Figure 3) . While diesel sales are dominant in many Member States, there are still variations in relative sales of petrol and diesel. For example in Spain and the UK the differences are particularly pronounced, with diesel sales in Spain significantly higher than petrol sales while it is just the opposite in the UK.
Figure 3: National fuel sales by fuel type across the EU (million litres)
National Fuel Sales, million litres | [pic] |
Total Petrol | Total Diesel |
There also remained a variation in the number of grades of fuel reported to be available across the EU (Figure 4) in 2003, with more petrol grades available. With the availability of low sulphur fuel grades in Greece, seven Member States defined national fuel grades for low (<50 ppm) or sulphur free (<10 ppm) fuels.
Figure 4: Number of fuel grades available nationally by fuel type across the EU
Number of Fuel Grades Available Nationally | [pic] |
Number of Petrol Grades | Number of Diesel Grades |
In 2001 and 2002 low sulphur fuels were already available in many countries across the EU, even though mandatory introduction is not required until 2005 (see Figure 5 and 6). Italy and Portugal are yet to introduce separately marketed low (<50 ppm) or sulphur free (<10 ppm) fuels. Compared to 2002, Greece has introduced petrol and diesel fuels of the <50 ppm quality and Belgium has introduced a <50 ppm petrol grade.
Figure 5: National sales of low sulphur petrol grades across the EU (%)
% National Petrol Sales | [pic] |
Petrol (regular) | Petrol (<50 ppm sulphur) | Petrol (<10 ppm sulphur) |
Sulphur free petrol was available in Austria, Germany, Ireland and Sweden, and Germany had moved completely over to low sulphur diesel.
Figure 6: National sales of low sulphur diesel grades across the EU (%)
% National Diesel Sales | [pic] |
Diesel (regular) | Diesel (<50 ppm sulphur) | Diesel (<10 ppm sulphur) |
In some Member States, although separate low or zero sulphur fuel grades or separate sales figures were not available in 2003, fuels complying with these criteria were available (eg in Denmark, Finland, Italy and the Netherlands). This can be seen in Figure 7 , which presents the average sulphur content of petrol and diesel grades by Member State across the EU. (Average sulphur content is calculated from the mean sulphur content from reporting on the sampled fuels, weighted to the quantities of different petrol or diesel fuel grades sold).
Figure 7: Average sulphur content of petrol and diesel grades across the EU (%)
Average Sulphur Content in Fuel (ppm) | [pic] |
Petrol | Diesel |
4.2 Compliance with Directive 98/70/EC in 2003
In terms of compliance with Directive 98/70/EC, only four Member States (Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Sweden) were in complete compliance with limit values for both petrol and diesel for all samples (compared to five in 2001 and 2002). Only Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain also provided complete reporting across the range of parameters specified for monitoring in the Directive.
In 2003, nine Member States reported at least one petrol sample that was non-compliant (compared to ten in 2001 and nine in 2002). Of these, the main parameters of concern were research octane number (RON, 14+ samples), summer vapour pressure (DVPE, 10+ samples) and distillation - evaporation at 100°C (6+ samples). However, while many Member States reported non-compliant samples, far fewer samples exceeded the limit values (and the limits of tolerance for test methods) than in previous years.
For diesel reporting, five Member States reported at least one sample that was non-compliant (compared to four in 2001 and six in 2002). Of these, the parameters of concern were sulphur content (5 samples), distillation 95% point (2 samples), cetane number (1 sample), density (1 sample) and PAH (1 sample). However, although several Member States reported non-compliant samples, far fewer samples exceeded the limit values (and the limits of tolerance for test methods) than in previous years.
Table 2 summarises Member States’ compliance with Directive 98/70/EC for 2003 reporting in terms of the analysis of samples against limit values and the reporting format and content. The quality of compliance assessment suffers in some cases from incomplete information provided by Member States. Details of action taken by Member States with regard to non-compliance are included, where provided, in the individual country chapters of the detailed report for the year 2003[10].
Table 2: Summary of Member State compliance with 98/70/EC for 2003 reporting.
Member State | Limit value non-compliance (95% confidence limits) (1) | Incomplete reporting | Late report (2) | Notes |
Petrol | Diesel | Petrol | Diesel |
Germany | X | 2 / 399 | X | 1 / 222 | | | | | X | | |Greece | | | X | 2 / 91 | | | | | | | |Ireland | X | 8 / 80 | | | | | | | X | | |Italy | X | 4 / 192 | X | 2 / 276 | | | | | | | |Luxembourg | | | | | | | | | X | | |Netherlands | X | 1 / 100 | | | | | | | X | | |Portugal | | | | | (X) | 5 / 18 | | | |(6) | |Spain | | | | | | | | | X | | |Sweden | | | | | X | 6 / 18 | | | | | |UK | X | 2 / 3003 | | | | | | | X | | | Total EU |8 | |4 | |4 | |0 | |9 | | | Notes:
It is not possible to confirm whether limit values have been respected in all samples, where reporting data is incomplete.
Directive 98/70/EC states that Member States should submit monitoring reports by no later than 30th June each year.
Leaded petrol has been banned in Austria since 1993. Random testing of lead content ended in 1998, as samples always complied.
Belgium’s submission did not state the total number of non-compliant samples; only the minimum number could be established.
Denmark only measured parameters expected to have significant impact on the environment. For petrol: RON, MON, oxygen content and all oxygenates (except ethers/MTBE) were not measured.
Portugal did not measure oxygenates other than ethers with more than 5 carbon atoms per molecule, stating that no other oxygenates are added to the fuel.
CONCLUSIONS
Monitoring of fuel quality in 2003 shows that the specifications for petrol and diesel laid down in Directive 98/70/EC were generally met. Very few violations were identified. The Commission has no indication of any negative repercussions on vehicle emissions or engine functioning due to these violations. However, the Commission continues to urge Member States to ensure full compliance with fuel quality requirements, having expressed its concern at a recent expert meeting and asked Member States to explain what measures are being taken to avoid future violations.
The recent amendments to Directive 98/70/EC (see Directive 2003/17/EC) included a new Article 9a which states "Member States shall determine the penalties applicable to breaches of the national provisions adopted pursuant to this Directive. The penalties determined must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive." It is expected that this will have a positive effect on compliance.
It should be noted that the share of <10 and <50 ppm sulphur fuels increased significantly from 2001 to 2003.
The fuel quality monitoring systems established at national level differ considerably and require further uniformity in order to provide transparent and comparable results. The implementation of Directive 2003/17/EC is expected to improve the quality of reporting as it will require Member States to report on monitoring in accordance with the new European Standard, EN 14274, or with systems of equivalent confidence.
ANNEX
2003 EU fuel sales by fuel type (million litres)
ID No. |Fuel grade |Austria |Belgium |Denmark |Finland |France |Germany |Greece |Ireland |Italy |Luxembourg |Netherlands |Portugal |Spain |Sweden |UK | EU15 |EU15 | |1 |Unleaded petrol min. RON=91 |0 |0 |504 |0 | |0 |0 |0 |0 |15 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 | EU | % Total | |2 |Unleaded petrol min. RON=91 (<50 ppm S) |810 |0 |0 |0 | |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |519 |0.4% | |3 |Unleaded petrol min. RON=91 (<10 ppm S) |0 |0 |0 |0 | |10,439 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |810 |0.6% | |4 |Unleaded petrol min. RON=95 |0 |1,946 |2,062 |2,147 | |0 |3,513 |1,240 |20,894 |569 |7,404 |0 |7,932 |0 |0 |10,439 |7.2% | |5 |Unleaded petrol min. RON=95 (<50 ppm S) |1,946 |0 |0 |0 | |0 |0 |13 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |4,855 |24,766 |47,707 |32.9% | |6 |Unleaded petrol min. RON=95 (<10 ppm S) |0 |0 |0 |0 | |23,188 |0 |872 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |31,580 |21.8% | |7 |Unleaded petrol 95=<RON<98 |0 |0 |0 |0 | |0 |1,083 |5 |0 |0 |0 |1,809 |1,772 |0 |0 |24,060 |16.6% | |8 |Unleaded petrol 95=<RON<98 (<50 ppm S) |0 |0 |0 |0 | |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1,166 |4,669 |3.2% | |9 |Unleaded petrol 95=<RON<98 (<10 ppm S) |0 |0 |0 |0 | |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1,166 |0.8% | |10 |Unleaded petrol RON<=98 |0 |0 |27 |322 | |0 |350 |0 |0 |0 |344 |657 |1,183 |0 |0 |0 |0.0% | |11 |Unleaded petrol RON<=98 (<50 ppm S) |0 |904 |0 |0 | |0 |12 |0 |0 |185 |0 |0 |0 |683 |0 |2,882 |2.0% | |12 |Unleaded petrol RON<=98 (<10 ppm S) |127 |0 |0 |0 | |1,373 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |1,783 |1.2% | | |Petrol (regular) | 0 |1,946 |2,593 |2,469 | |0 |4,945 |1,245 |20,894 |583 |7,748 |2,466 |10,888 |0 |0 | 1,500 |1.0% | | |Petrol (<50 ppm sulphur) | 2,756 |904 |0 |0 | |0 |12 |13 |0 |185 |0 |0 |0 |5,538 |25,932 |55,777 |38.5% | | |Petrol (<10 ppm sulphur) | 127 |0 |0 |0 | |35,001 |0 |872 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |35,338 |24.4% | | |Total Petrol | 2,883 |2,850 |2,593 |2,469 | |35,001 |4,957 |2,129 |20,894 |768 |7,748 |2,466 |10,888 |5,538 |25,932 |35,999 |24.8% | |13 | Diesel | 6,868 |0 |0 |2 | |0 |3,077 |0 |26,745 |0 |0 |5,712 |24,814 |0 |0 | 127,115 |87.7% | |14 | Diesel (<50 ppm sulphur) | 0 |6,970 |2,415 |2,262 | |0 |48 |2,286 |0 |1,600 |8,535 |0 |0 |0 |21,306 |67,217 |37.0% | |15 | Diesel (<10 ppm sulphur) | 0 |0 |0 |0 | |33,591 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |0 |3,799 |0 |45,423 |25.0% | | | Total Diesel | 6,868 |6,970 |2,415 |2,264 | |33,591 |3,124 |2,286 |26,745 |1,600 |8,535 |5,712 |24,814 |3,799 |21,306 | 37,389 |20.6% | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |150,029 |82.7% | |
[1] O.J. L 350 of 28.12.1998, p. 58
[2] O.J. L76 of 22.3.2003, p. 10
[3] The reporting years 2001 and 2002 are covered by COM(2004)310 final
[4] See http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/transport.htm#2
[5] O.J. L 53 of 23.2.2002, p.30
[6] COM(2004)310 final
[7] http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/transport.htm#2
[8] EN 14274:2003 - Automotive fuels - Assessment of petrol and diesel quality - Fuel Quality Monitoring System
[9] The term “regular” is used for fuels with a sulphur content which is in accordance with Directive 98/70/EC (150 ppm for petrol and 350 ppm for diesel); the term “low sulphur” corresponds to a sulphur content of 50 ppm; the term “sulphur free” to a sulphur content of 10 ppm
[10] See http://europa.eu.int/comm/environment/air/transport.htm#2