Euro V applied to imported diesel, NA panel told

The diesel imports from January 1, 2021, would comply with Euro V standard, Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Petroleum Nadeem Babar told a meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change on Thursday.

Briefing the committee, the SAPM said that crackdown on smuggling of Iranian fuel had been launched and the government had sealed the border in Balochistan. However, he added that total elimination of the fuel was not possible.

“Now, from January 1, all imported diesel would comply with Euro V standard [of the European emission standards],” he told lawmakers. “We already have applied Euro V standard on petrol import a few months ago.”

Babar said that the current standard is Euro II, which emits more sulphur, which is harmful to the environment. “We had two options, either to adopt Euro III and go directly to Euro V,” he said, adding that after thorough deliberations, the government opted for Euro V.”

Babar said that 65-70% petrol and 40% diesel requirements are met by imported fuel. He added that local refineries were also being upgraded to comply with the low sulphur target. In case of complaints, the refineries are fined, he added.

“Full upgradation of the refineries would take four years, the SAPM said. “Some of our refineries are as old as 100 years and need upgrading. The five refineries need Rs4 billion to upgrade,” he said, adding however, that amount would be generated by those refineries.

He said that smuggling of petrol was a big issue and the government had started a crackdown. “Smuggled fuel from Iran goes as far as to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” he said. “It is not possible to stop 100% smuggling rather the target id to reduce it.