NAAMSA - METAL ADDITIVES IN UNLEADED PETROL

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NAAMSA MEDIA RELEASE : COMMENT ON VARIOUS NEWSPAPER ARTICLES ON METAL ADDITIVES IN UNLEADED PETROL IN SOUTH AFRICA

Over the past few days reports in various sections of the media have addressed the subject of metal additives in unleaded petrol in South Africa suggesting that “the fuel is damaging cars”. In terms of the reports, a NAAMSA document has been cited. The NAAMSA document referred to in the various newspaper articles represents an industry internal/confidential memorandum which has been used by the Association as the basis of engaging various oil companies on the subject of the automotive industry’s requirements regarding the quality of unleaded petrol in areas of South Africa. It is long established practice that the automotive industry in South Africa, through individual vehicle manufacturers and collectively, through NAAMSA, engages the oil companies, on an ongoing basis, on a variety of fuel quality and vehicle performance related issues.

It is important to note that, over the past three years, unleaded petrol with an octane enhancing metal additive has been marketed mainly in the Highveld supply area and more recently in the Mossel Bay and Port Elizabeth supply areas. Furthermore, the metal additive unleaded petrol is marketed, on a limited scale, in the Free State and the Kwa-Zulu Natal region.

Based on reports by various automotive companies marketing catalytic converter vehicles with sophisticated emission control equipment, there have been some instances of catalytic converter blockages attributed to the use of the metal additive unleaded petrol. Typically, these instances have occurred on vehicles which have exceeded 60 000 kms. Where a problem has manifested itself, the matter has been rectified by the vehicle manufacturer in terms of the company’s warranty policy. It is also important to bear in mind that the number of catalytic converter vehicles throughout South Africa as a proportion of the total car population is at present less than 10%.

Nevertheless, vehicle manufacturers remain concerned about the influence of heavy metals in unleaded petrol on the performance of high technology, catalytic converter vehicles. In line with international automotive best practice, NAAMSA recently endorsed the use of metal additive free unleaded petrol for these types of vehicles since modern technology catalytic vehicles perform optimally in the long term with the use of high quality fuel, free of metal additives.

NAAMSA will therefore continue to engage the oil industry on fuel quality issues in an effort to ensure that unleaded petrol marketed in South Africa meets the needs of motorists and vehicle manufacturers. Ultimately, what is required in South Africa is cleaner fuels to enable the optimum operation of high technology vehicle emission control devices as a means of improving the country’s air quality. In this regard, the South African Oil and Automotive Industries and Government have formulated proposals on a strategy for vehicle emissions and fuel quality for implementation from 2004 onwards.

In the meantime, it is important to ensure that public debate regarding metal additives in unleaded petrol is kept in proper perspective and avoids causing unnecessary concern specifically among owner/drivers of catalytic converter vehicles and generally among motorists.