BP boosts lead-free petrol plan

BP’s new Cleaner Super petrol, which was launched this week, will help the government in its quest to phase out leaded petrol by 2006. It is an unleaded fuel formulated especially for cars built before 1986.

BP’s new Cleaner Super petrol that was launched this week will help the government in its quest to phase out leaded petrol by 2006. It is an unleaded fuel for cars built before 1986.

The new unleaded petrol can be used by vehicles without catalytic converters and will eventually replace SuperPlus leaded. It contains potassium, which protects valve seats in a similar way to the action of lead. But, unlike lead, the environment is not polluted with harmful lead oxide.

It is already available in Pretoria, Johannesburg and at 14 petrol stations in Cape Town, and will be distributed throughout South Africa within the next few months.

BP Cleaner Super will cost four cents per litre less than leaded petrol in the coastal areas and six cents less than 97 unleaded petrol. In the inland areas it will cost the same as 93 unleaded petrol. It cannot be used on cars fitted with catalytic converters.

The SA launch is part of an R11-billion global programme to make BP’s greener fuels available all over the world by 2006 – especially in major cities most affected by air pollution.

The Department of Minerals and Energy’s Director of Petroleum, Theunis Burger, said he had not looked at the fuel yet, but as it was an unleaded petrol it would help accelerate the government’s plan to phase out leaded petrol.

Fred Phaswana, BP Regional President, Africa, says the launch of the new petrol demonstrates BP’s determination to make Africa an integral part of its multi-pronged global environmental initiatives.

“We are seriously committed to this. For example, we are using solar energy as a fuel source at the new service stations being built, we only use indigenous plants in landscaping and we are acknowledged leaders in the development of emission-free fuel products,” Phaswana said.

CAR’s technical editor Jake Venter comments: “Potassium-based fuel enhancers have been tested for over 20 years in a number of European countries, and are on sale in some of these countries.

“However, their effectiveness in curbing valve seat recession depends on the dosage, and there are indications that constant driving at speeds over 120 km/h may need double the normal dose. We are trying to find out more details from BP, and will keep readers informed.”