DOE sets new diesel standards

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Energy (DOE) has issued new standards for automotive diesel oil to further improve fuel quality and lessen its impact on the environment.

DOE Secretary Alfonso Cusi said ensuring fuel quality is equally important alongside the government’s mission of maintaining stable supply of oil in the country.

“The new Philippine standards for automotive diesel oil is in line with our mandate to implement programs and policies that will complement and comply with existing international and environmental standards for fuel,” he said.

The new Philippine National Standard (PNS) for automotive diesel oil contains revised technical provisions to upgrade fuel quality requirement, such as reduced sulfur content limit in compliance with Euro-4 emission standard, and test methods for more accurate evaluation of fuel quality.

It is separate and distinct from the standards of the Industrial Diesel Oils, which has distinct standard designation, specifically PNS/DOE QS 013:2017.

“The primary impact of the new PNS for diesel strengthens the government’s consistent and continuing program towards the use of cleaner fuels and promotion of indigenous and sustainable energy resources with the end view of reducing dependence on imported oil,” Cusi said.

The new PNS for automotive diesel oil also supports the country’s commitment in the international community to reduce carbon emissions through smarter and more efficient use of automotive fuel for transport.

The DOE-Oil Industry Management Bureau (OIMB) spearheaded the review of the PNS/DOE Quality Standard (QS):004:2017 on coco-methyl ester (CME)-blended automotive diesel oil specification.

In approving the updated standards, the DOE-OIMB team sought input from oil industry stakeholders: technical committee on petroleum products & additives (TCPPA) members from petroleum manufacturers and marketers, car and motorcycle manufacturers, non-government organizations, consumers, academe, government agencies and invited technical experts.