Japan finalizes strategies to promote clean diesel

A clean-diesel promotion council led by Japans Ministry of Trade, Economy and Industry, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Ministry of Environment and representatives from the automobile and petrochemical industries, has finalized a strategic plan to encourage the use of clean-diesel energy. The objective is to promote the use of diesel fuel to power cars, as the fuel consumption of diesel-engine cars is more than 20% lower than that of gasoline-engine cars. The plan consists of three platforms: to improve consumers’ image of diesel-engine cars; to leverage regional characteristics to encourage the introduction of diesel engines; and to develop alternative fuels and diversify energy sources. (July 10, 2008)</P>