Switch to unleaded petrol will not cost more

The price of unleaded petrol preferred by UAE motorists - grade 95 - will be brought down by 20 fils from January 1 - bringing it in conformity to the price of leaded premium presently available at UAE pumps.

The UAE is phasing out leaded gasoline and replacing it with unleaded gasoline from January 1, the UAE Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources officially announced yesterday.

Two grades of unleaded gasoline will be made available. One is Grade 95 that will cost Dh4 per gallon, while the other, Grade 98, will cost Dh5 per gallon.

"The price of unleaded gasoline (grade 95) is actually reduced from Dh4.20 to Dh4 per gallon. About 90 to 95 per cent of consumption in the country is of grade 95," said Ahmed Abdullah, Umm Al Nar refinery division manager, Takreer.

Currently, unleaded gasoline costs Dh4.20 per gallon while leaded gasoline (premium) costs Dh4 per gallon and leaded gasoline (regular) costs Dh3.75 per gallon.

"The phase out of leaded gasoline to unleaded gasoline, is a landmark date in the history of the UAE. We look forward to bringing this prestigious initiative to fruition," said Nasser Al Sharhan, acting undersecretary of the ministry.

This is one of the UAE's most significant environmental initiatives to date and the ministry is working to make sure that the 750,000 motorists are made aware of just how easy this change over will be, he said.

He added: "It is a fact that almost every car in the UAE can run on unleaded gasoline."

To educate motorists in advance of the January 1, 2003 change over date, a comprehensive awareness programme has been created and designed to inform all members of the public of their vehicles' compatibility with unleaded gasoline.

Companies involved in retail business such as Eppco, Emarat and Enoc will be ready to supply unleaded gasoline following the conversion of some 500 service stations across the country. Each company has to make substantial investment.

An Emarat official confirmed that the company invested some Dh2 million towards the conversion.

Ahmed Abdulla said the company has invested in its current facilities for producing some 1.6 million metric tonnes per annum (pa) of gasoline up to 2005, after which additional capital will be invested to reduce gas oil sulphur and produce 2.6 million metric tonnes of gasoline pa.

The complete phase out of leaded gasoline came in response to a resolution by the Higher Council of Leaders of the Gulf Cooperation Council in December, 1998.

In July, the UAE cabinet decree No. 339/39, 2002 mandated the complete phase out of leaded gasoline in the country by the prescribed date.

The UAE government initiative regarding the obligatory inclusion of catalytic converters in all new cars from 2002 will largely reduce harmful emissions.