DRC - Support Transition to Low Sulfur Fuel Standards

Rationale

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) became a member of the East African Community (EAC) on 11 July 2022. Like other EAC member states, transportation is a major source of rising air pollution in the DRC, with HDVs being one of the major drivers of GHG, SLCP & air pollutant emissions from road transport.

Air pollution causes upto 16,000 premature deaths in the DRC annually, and 41% of deaths from stroke and ischaemic heart disease caused in the DRC are due to air pollution (WHO,2022). 

The adoption of the EAC standards are top priority for the DRC government in order to conform with requirements of the EAC Treaty and relevant protocols on environment, natural resource management, and trade.

 While the EAC has taken steps to address vehicular air pollution by adopting harmonised motor vehicle emission standards in 2022 with minimum Euro 4/IV requirements for new and/or imported used vehicles, as well as harmonised low sulfur fuel standards (50 ppm for diesel & gasoline) in 2015 and 2019; the DRC – a new entrant in the EAC, is yet to adopt these regional standards into national frameworks. 

This project will support DRC to develop and adopt national low sulfur diesel fuel and vehicle emission standards and collaboration with other countries in the region that have advanced standards in place.

Objectives

The project aims to:

• Strengthen the Government of DRC's knowledge and capacity to move to low sulfur fuels and emission standards.
• Enable the government of DRC to endorses draft low sulfur fuel and vehicle emission standards.

Activities

To achieve its objectives, the project will:

• Develop and deliver training for relevant government officials on a systems approach to implementing clean fuels & vehicles programs, and vehicles inspection & maintenance programs, including compliance & enforcement strategies.
•  Work with the national task team to develop national low sulfur fuels & vehicle emission standards in line with harmonised EAC standards, and implementation plan & roadmap that incorporates compliance & enforcement aspects.

Project Reference: [CD-24-003] DRC - Support Transition to Low Sulfur Fuel Standards