By Theodore Opara

Sulphur in petroleum fuels results in vehicle exhaust emissions that have negative health and environmental impacts. Harmful emission reducing technologies in vehicles also require low Sulphur fuels to be effective.  This was the submission of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), as it pegs the level of sulphur  contents in fuels in Nigeria.

The Standards Organisation of Nigeria, after due consultations with relevant stakeholders, have therefore reduced the maximum allowed levels of Sulphur in Petroluem fuels in Nigeria as follows: From July 1, 2017, Diesel fuel (AGO) should have maximum Sulphur levels of 50 parts per million.

Petroleum motor spirit (Petrol) should have maximum Sulphur levels of 150 ppm

Petroleum fuels that have high sulphur levels generate directly high emission levels in automotive engines. Such vehicle emissions contain high level of toxic pollutants such as benzenes and particulates that have negative impacts on human health and on the environment. Technically, modern vehicles require fuels that meet high quality standards for a more efficient operation of their engines.