Sulfur content too high in mainland's petrol
By Li Qian |
00:00 UTC+8 March 3, 2012
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
GASOLINE sold in the Chinese mainland contains toxic sulfur dioxide 35 to 50 times higher than the standard level, once again sparking concern over the petrol quality following complaints that the 93-octane petrol had different colors and caused engine failure.
Sulfur dioxide, listed as a type of greenhouse gas, contaminates the air and can trigger respiratory diseases and asthma, according to the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily.
A director with the Guangdong Oil and Gas Association, Yao Daming, didn't confirm the allegations, but did say the official standard differed between the mainland and Hong Kong and "the petrol emission gap indeed existed," the paper said.
Most regions on Chinese mainland impose the national III standard for vehicle emissions, which specify a sulfur content of no more than 150 ppm (parts per million) while Hong Kong's stricter policy allows a sulfur content of 10 to 50 ppm.
It marked the latest example of the petrol quality being questioned. Car owners in southwest China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces have noticed the color difference of the 93-octane gasoline provided by Sinopec and PetroChina, China's two biggest oil companies.
A picture on the Internet contrasting samples taken from the service stations of Sinopec and PetroChina showed the former was yellow and the later was transparent. But both caused malfunctions of vehicles.
Check-ups showed some of the petrol provided by service stations operated by two industry tycoons caused excessive carbon emissions, unstable idling speeds and even engine failure.
A netizen said one of his colleagues always went to service stations operated by Shell Co because after he filled at PetroChina or Sinopec stations, many residues would be left in the engine.
According to industry consulting firm C1 Energy, some crude oil providers mixed lower quality oil to decrease the cost, which caused the yellower and substandard petroleum products of Sinopec, the report showed.
The two oil giants are said to have tightened controls on external supplies following the problems.
Sinopec has eliminated some supplies from external sources and PetroChina is said to have ordered its sales companies to suspend external procurement of petrol on February 15.
Sulfur dioxide, listed as a type of greenhouse gas, contaminates the air and can trigger respiratory diseases and asthma, according to the Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily.
A director with the Guangdong Oil and Gas Association, Yao Daming, didn't confirm the allegations, but did say the official standard differed between the mainland and Hong Kong and "the petrol emission gap indeed existed," the paper said.
Most regions on Chinese mainland impose the national III standard for vehicle emissions, which specify a sulfur content of no more than 150 ppm (parts per million) while Hong Kong's stricter policy allows a sulfur content of 10 to 50 ppm.
It marked the latest example of the petrol quality being questioned. Car owners in southwest China's Yunnan and Guizhou provinces have noticed the color difference of the 93-octane gasoline provided by Sinopec and PetroChina, China's two biggest oil companies.
A picture on the Internet contrasting samples taken from the service stations of Sinopec and PetroChina showed the former was yellow and the later was transparent. But both caused malfunctions of vehicles.
Check-ups showed some of the petrol provided by service stations operated by two industry tycoons caused excessive carbon emissions, unstable idling speeds and even engine failure.
A netizen said one of his colleagues always went to service stations operated by Shell Co because after he filled at PetroChina or Sinopec stations, many residues would be left in the engine.
According to industry consulting firm C1 Energy, some crude oil providers mixed lower quality oil to decrease the cost, which caused the yellower and substandard petroleum products of Sinopec, the report showed.
The two oil giants are said to have tightened controls on external supplies following the problems.
Sinopec has eliminated some supplies from external sources and PetroChina is said to have ordered its sales companies to suspend external procurement of petrol on February 15.
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