PETROL

History

Why was lead added to petrol?
Petrol needs a certain octane level to prevent the engine from “pinging” or “knocking”. Engine knock is caused by the uncontrolled detonation of the last part of the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber and may damage the engine. The octane rating of a fuel is a measure of its resistance to knock – the higher the rating, the less will be the tendency of a fuel to cause knock. Adding lead compounds to petrol was the most cost-effective way of boosting its octane rating.

Why is lead being removed from petrol?
Lead has been widely used as a petrol additive since the 1920’s. However, leaded petrol cannot be used by cars equipped with catalytic converters designed to reduce harmful exhaust emissions, as lead very rapidly and permanently renders the catalyst completely ineffective. This, together with the realization that lead emitted from vehicle exhausts has the potential to adversely affect human health, resulted in it being phased out, first in North America and then across Europe and, increasingly, the rest of the world.

From what date will there no longer be lead in petrol in South Africa?
Unleaded petrol was first introduced into the South African market in 1996. Since that date, the use of unleaded petrol has gradually increased and now accounts for approximately 40% of total petrol sales in South Africa. As from 1 January 2006, lead will no longer be added to petrol in the production process and leaded petrol will no longer be marketed by the oil companies.

New Fuels

What octane grades of petrol will be available in South Africa after 1 January 2006?
The government has determined that three octane grades of unleaded petrol (ULP) will be permitted in South Africa (in both the coastal and inland regions) after 1 January 2006, namely 91, 93 and 95 Research Octane Number (RON). Market demand will determine which of these grades will be available in the different parts of the country. Motorists should not expect to find all octane grades available in all locations, but can expect to find a grade suitable for their particular vehicle wherever they may go in South Africa.

In addition 2 octane grades of lead replacement petrol (LRP) will be permissible, a 95 octane grade at the coast and 93 octane grade inland.

Coast (+<1200m)
ULP 91, 93, 95
LRP 95

Inland (+>1200m)
ULP 91, 93, 95
LRP 93

How will the required octane grades be achieved without the addition of lead?
All the South African refineries have invested or are investing in additional facilities and more sophisticated refining technology to enable them to produce greater volumes of high octane blending components. To the extent that octane demand exceeds the ability of local refineries to supply, there will be imports of high octane blending components or of high octane petrol to ensure that demand is satisfied.

Will there be a change in the level of benzene in petrol after 1 January 2006?
Benzene levels will remain in line with the proposed regulated levels due to take effect in 2006. These are in line with the equivalent EURO specifications.

How will the prices of the different petrol grades be set?
The regulated pump prices will be determined using the same methodology as at present. This means that price setting for the unleaded grades already available (95 octane at the coast and 93 octane inland) will continue as before. The prices of the lead replacement grades will be the same as the prices of unleaded petrol of the same octane.

In the inland area, where a 95 octane unleaded grade will become available for the first time, a special “demand management levy” will be introduced on this additional grade, which will increase the pump price differential between it and 93 octane petrol, initially by 10c per liter. The reason for this is that the great majority of vehicles are satisfied inland by the 93 octane fuel which is presently the highest and, in fact, only octane available. 95 octane fuel is being made available inland to satisfy the requirements of the latest technology vehicles now being introduced by the motor industry. Since motorists will now have a choice of grades and, to avoid octane wastage, it is desirable that only those who really need 95 octane will choose to use it. The inland demand management levy is being introduced to incentivise motorists to consider their choices carefully. At the coast, where the predominant demand will be for higher octane fuel (in general, the lower the altitude the higher the octane requirement of a vehicle) and 95 octane unleaded is presently the only available unleaded grade, there will be no additional levy on this grade.