Diesel in the Philippines from a foreigner's perspective

**Doc Diesel** · July 14th, 2003 02:57 PM

"If you want to experience the depth of problems caused by (dirty) diesel exhausts, you need to visit a city like Manila on the outskirts of which I live. All the busses, trucks, and medium-sized people-movers are diesel powered as are about half the private vehicles. (There are also many 2-cycle motor tricycles.) Here, the level of infant asthma is staggering - something like 60% I was recently told by a pediatrician. I don't have any figures for lung cancer and, with a nearly non-existent public health service, there probably are few accurate statistics available. On a subjective basis, I have seen visibility on an otherwise
clear day reduced to 50 meters or less by concentrated diesel exhausts. People walk the streets with handkerchiefs over their faces much of the time. If I travel into the city for a day I cough for three days afterwards. Now, if adding a percentage of biodiesel could alleviate even half of these symptoms, it would be very well worthwhile.

One problem, in countries like the Philippines, is the low cost of fuel. It is currently around 30 cents US per liter for 'high-sulfur' diesel and no government has the political will to enforce higher fuel quality or lower emissions, either of which would be perceived as lowering the standard of living. With the price of petro-diesel thus pegged, it is difficult to imagine how bio-diesel production could be sustainable. All suggestions gratefully received!"

got this from another forum..

Doc Diesel

**boybi** · July 14th, 2003 05:23 PM

no government has the political will to enforce higher fuel quality or lower emissions, either of which would be perceived as lowering the standard of living.

kalaban kasi ng government dito mga public transport operators and drivers. malaking epekto ito sa election results.

**pajerokid** · July 14th, 2003 06:19 PM

Yup. Tama si Brod Boybi. Primary objective of any politician here is to perpetuate his or his family members' term. A pity.

**rsnald** · July 14th, 2003 09:17 PM

To give you guys an idea of how pollution causing our diesel is, the sulfur content of our current diesel is about 0.10 -.15%, maybe maxing out at about 0.2%, some say even 0.5%.

Sa U.S., ang allowed limit lang e, 0.05%. But they have plans to reduce this to a staggering 0.005%, which by the way is already the standard adopted in some European Nations and Japan.

Milya milya ang layo ng standard ng diesel natin. Kaya yung mga hi-tech na diesel engine ng VW and italian cars - maybe including that of the trooper, di pwede dito sa 'tin. mistulang basura ang fuel natin.

**Bubbles** · July 14th, 2003 10:18 PM

Solution is biodiesel. And we, the diesel club must be responsible. Change has to start somewhere. Why not start with us. We must show that we are responsible diesel users. The poor cant afford the price of biodiesel but we can. and we can keep our rigs from spewing black smoke.

Tama na BS, I feel like a priest na preaching the word of the diesel gods

**splerdu** · July 15th, 2003 12:21 AM

> which by the way is already the standard adopted in some European Nations and Japan.

Sulfur figures are actually misleading. From what i know the JIS standard for sulfur levels in diesel is not very high, but the fuel itself is available with very low sulfur levels.

The cleanest diesel is available in Sweden and Germany, with 10ppm sulfur. Current standards in the US and EU allow up to 500ppm, with plans to move to 15ppm by 2010.

**ondoy** · July 15th, 2003 12:48 AM

Excerpts from Petron's Information Statement (SEC Form 17-IS) for its Annual Stockholder's meeting on 28 July 2003:

"In compliance with Clean Air Act, the Refinery started supplying unleaded gasoline with 35% aromatics and 2% benzene in November 2002. By 2004, an additional 22 MBCD Gas Oil Hydrotreater will be onstream to desulfurize automotive diesel down to 0.05% sulfur level. Etc........."

So it appears Petron is ontrack towards compliance with the Clean Air Act, assuming the foregoing is true.

**roydok** · July 15th, 2003 04:44 AM

As I heared in the news some months back starting Jan. 1, '04 all diesels sold in the Phils will comply with the 0.05% sulfur level limit as per implementation of the Clean Air Act.

**Doc Diesel** · July 15th, 2003 06:32 AM

the big question is, will all those lowering sulfur content promises come true?

we all know lowering those would mean re-tooling their plants at a very costly price.

Doc Diesel

**boybi** · July 15th, 2003 09:18 AM

it really depends on the political will of the government. if they will be strict in their enforcement, then the oil companies will have no choice but to comply else they will not be issued business permits.