Petrol to be cleaner by 2024
“Petrol to be cleaner by 2024 but fuel costs will rise”
The dirty fuel in Australia will be getting cleaner but it will come at a cost at the pump. New legislation has been introduced by the Labor government to bring forward lower-sulphur petrol into the country by December 2024. At this time, Albanese’s government hopes to have all Australian petrol stations operating with a maximum sulphur level of 10 parts per million. The sulphur in petrol impairs the effectiveness of vehicle emission control systems and air pollution.
Although we are over a decade behind Europe, the Federal Government has completed the paperwork for lower-sulphur petrol to be implemented 3 years ahead of the current schedule. Motorists will have to pay more at the bowser but some peace of mind having cleaner fuel flow through our vehicles. Cutting 3 years of waiting time, newer generations of engine technology will capitalise on the effects of lower-sulphur unleaded petrol bringing cleaner operating vehicles to Australian showrooms.
The marginal price premium of reduced sulphur petrol will be around 0.6-1.0 cents per litre, costing Australian motorists around $8 per household per week according to the spokesperson for the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. The 10 parts per million is dulled down from the current standard of 50 parts per million that has been flowing through our pumps since 2008. To put into perspective how Australia is behind with lower-sulphur fuel trends, along with Europe, India, Canada, China, the US, and New Zealand all currently use this.
Improving Australia’s fuel quality is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving actions on climate change and achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. This change will bring Australia into line with the world’s best standard of unleaded petrol ultimately benefiting vehicle performance. According to the same spokesperson mentioned above, the reduced sulphur petrol will improve air quality leading to reduced health costs from air pollution exposure by an estimated $840 million.
As of the start of August, the current global price average of petrol was $2.01 per litre compared to Australia’s average price of petrol of $1.817 as stated by the “Global Petrol Prices”. Cleaner fuel and lower emissions are on the way but for all motorists, there is a price to pay.