Eastern Petroleum, Unioil offer Euro 4 diesel products in Phl

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MANILA, Philippines - Independent oil players Eastern Petroleum Corp. (EPC) and Unioil Philippines Inc. have jointly launched in their Metro Manila retail stations the first Euro 4 diesel products in the country.

EPC chairman Fernando Martinez told reporters that the new Euro 4 products will be sold in its 25 stations at no extra cost. Unioil likewise will offer these products in 25 of its stations located in the metropolis.

He said EPC and Unioil jointly import the Euro 4 diesel products with Unioil to make it more cost efficient. All Euro 2 diesel products, he said, had been phased out.

The two oil companies started offering the new product on Feb. 14.

Martinez said they would be importing some 40 million liters of Euro 4 products every month, challenging other players, especially the bigger oil firms, to follow their lead.

“I am calling and challenging our bigger partners in the industry to follow the same path without charging more from consumers. Its about time that we set aside some business gains in favor of a cleaner air,” he said.

At present, the country’s oil firms are only Euro 2 compliant. In Europe, all oil companies have been carrying Euro-5 products.

He also said they hope to offer similar grade in gasoline products within the year.

Euro 4, which could provide 90 percent less sulfur content, is guaranteed to lower the emission of impurities by as much as 60 percent.

Martinez said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) conducted the test on two pick-up utility vehicles which have been in use from three to five years.

“After draining its fuel tank and fuelling it with Euro 4, the vehicles were allowed to test drive within Metro Manila. After two hours of continuous driving, emission test from DENR conducted last Feb. 10 and 14 showed significant results. Emission of impurities were reduced by as much as 60 percent. And to show prolonged improvement, the pick-up trucks were tested after three days of Euro 4 use. Not only did it surpass the DENR standards, but it even decreased emission further by as much as 60 percent. Indeed Euro 4 is now the cleanest and most competitively priced diesel for the motorist,” he said.

He said EPC, through the introduction of Euro 4-compliant diesel, is now geared to join other environmental advocates, committed to the full implementation of the Clean Air Act which prescribed the desired emission standard and fuel quality, but has been hampered by repeated refusal from some oil companies to introduce higher grade fuels.

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