Fuel Quality Roadmap for Arab States

This report aims to provide possible alternative routes for improving fuel quality in the Arab countries. The Council of Arab Ministers Responsible for the Environment (CAMRE) requested from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Centre for Environment and Development for the Arab Region and Europe (CEDARE) to work on introducing cleaner fuels in the region. This document proposes a roadmap to reduce sulphur concentration in fuel to have cleaner fuel and better air quality based on the available information from respective Arab countries. High levels of sulphur in vehicle fuels result in harmful emissions of sulphur oxides that threaten public health and ambient air quality.

The report focuses on diesel fuel since sulphur content in diesel fuel is significantly higher than gasoline fuel in most Arab countries. Notably, the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) are pursuing ambitious upgrade plans to reach top European fuel quality standards. Top fuel quality refinery products have been historically export-oriented in Bahrain and Qatar. Arab countries that depend mainly on imported fuels have fewer challenges with the introduction of cleaner fuels. Whereas Arab countries that meet domestic demand through a mix of local production and imports have greater challenges since upgrading current refineries is costly. However, the impact on improved health and environment as well as meeting the fuel standards needed for optimal performance of most modern cleaner vehicles must be taken into account.