New Zealand relaxes constraints on engine fuel

New Zealand will relax constraints on engine fuel specifications later this year. Hekia Parata, acting minister of energy and resources, said that the new regulations could benefit consumers with small price savings in fuel costs. Under the new regulations, the required motor octane level for regular grade petrol will be lowered from 82 to 81. “This reduction in the minimum octane level requirement will align our specification with Australia’s and potentially lower the costs of sourcing this fuel by up to a cent per liter. I would expect to see this reflected in the price for regular fuel at the pumps, ” said Parata. During the summer months, the minimum E70 requirement will be lowered from 22% to 20%. The vapor pressure waiver for petrol and ethanol blends will be made the standard for all seasons. There will also be changes to the specifications for diesel and diesel-biodiesel blends. In terms of ethanol, the maximum levels of inorganic chloride will be lowered to 32 milligrams per liter to 10 milligrams per liter. The maximum amount of phosphorus allowed in biodiesel will be lowered to four milligrams, from 10 milligrams. (August 3, 2011)