Introduction
- The Workshop on Phasing Out Lead in Gasoline was one of the topics of
the Sofia Initiative: Collaborative Programme on Improving
Local Air Quality in Central and Eastern Europe
(SILAQ) organized by the Regional Environmental Center for
Central and Eastern Europe (REC).
- The Workshop took place on 24-26 June 1997 in Bourgas, Bulgaria according
to an agenda preliminary approved by SILAQ Working Group members during
their first meeting held on 11-12 February 1997, in Szentendre, Hungary.
- The goal of the Workshop was to exchange information on the different
approaches to solving the problems of airborne lead, the phasing out of
lead in gasoline and the principles of phase out schedule development.
- The representatives of all CEE countries and Russia, as well as consultants
from Denmark, Norway, USA, EBRD and the Harvard Institute for International
Development (HIID) were invited to participate. The Workshop was attended
by representatives from Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania,
Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and consultants from Denmark, Norway, USA and
HIID. For logistical reasons, the representatives from other CEE countries
were not able to attend.
- Different sessions of the Workshop were chaired by the different delegates on a rotational principle The participants were welcomed by Mrs. Margarita Mateeva, Local Representative of REC Bulgaria, who organized the logistics for the Workshop.
Day One
- The Chairman of the SILAQ Working Group - Dr. Dimitar Kantardjiev, Bulgaria,
opened the Workshop and welcomed all participants.
- Mr. Robert Judge (USEPA) presented the USEPA experience on the health
effects of using leaded and unleaded gasoline and additives.
- Ms. Ulla Blatt Bendtsen (Danish EPA) presented on-going activities in
the Pan-European Initiative to Phase Out Lead in Gasoline in Europe, including
assistance to country and regional assessments and programs, country surveys,
and similarities and differences between the Pan-European and the Sofia
Initiative.
- Bulgaria presented its National Report on the Phase Out of Leaded Gasoline;
Hungary presented a review on Leaded and Unleaded Gasoline and Vehicle Park
in Hungary, prepared by Jeno Hevesi; Romania presented a report, concerning
the measures it has taken for the phasing out lead from gasoline and Slovenia
presented a report on Phasing Out of Lead in Gasoline in Slovenia, prepared
by Hydrometeorological Institute of Slovenia (Bojan Rode) and PETROL d.d.,
Ljubljana (Igor Rogelj)
- In addition to the Workshop, several discussions focused on SILAQ Working
Group (WG) issues. These included the Liaison Officer's proposal for completion
of the Country Reports, as well as the Questionnaire (Data Sheets) for country
assessment of the Sulphur Oxides and Particulates.
- The group decided that the above mentioned issues would have to be studied and on Day Three and that after the completion of the work central to the Workshop, decisions concerning these issues will be taken.
Day Two
- The Slovakia's MoE presented a review of the National Policy for the Improvement
of the Quality of Fuels, and of Air Quality, while a review on Lead Phase
Out Process in Slovakia by was given by VURUP - Research Institute of Petroleum
and Hydrocarbon Gases.
- Bjorn Reusch (Norwegian Petroleum Association) presented Norwegian experience
in the Phase Out of Leaded Petrol, illustrating with data concerning the
production, sales, consumption, the technological, public and legislative
preparation, as well as the economic measures.
- During the round table discussion, all countries expressed their opinions
regarding the considered problems and specific components of the presented
country reports.
- Russia made a general presentation on its situation and informed that
the MoE will undertake immediate measures for a ban on the import of
old cars.
- The representative of the Czech Republic said that Czech petroleum
companies are ready to decrease the lead content in gasoline and to
increase production of unleaded gasoline, but they are not willing to
declare their plans and to details the possible investments. The capacity
of the distribution network was made more clear, although the vehicle
fleet changes should be clarified. On the basis of world-wide experience
and previous information exchange, strategies should be developed for
a Òstep by stepÓ transition to unleaded gasoline.
- According to the representative of HIID, in order to be successful,
the strategies should give simple but clear answers to the relation
between fuels prices, the expenses of the producer, and the capacity
of the client; the charges for old /polluting/ cars; and the capacity
of the vehicle fleet to use unleaded gasoline.
- Norway showcased how it has initially focused on providing opportunity to purchase unleaded gasoline at every petrol station through legislative provisions, the enforcement of a range of charges and an awareness raising campaign. The change in the vehicle fleet was also considered an important condition for the decrease of local air pollution, however, it was mentioned that this is a longer process which will take more time.
- Russia made a general presentation on its situation and informed that
the MoE will undertake immediate measures for a ban on the import of
old cars.
- Jerry Newsome (USEPA) presented USEPA experiences and practices concerning
contingent valuation, indirect/intangible costs, and implementation of benefits/costs
analysis.
- A later round table discussion was also held during which all the participants
recognized and admitted the specific importance of the economic assessments
(evaluations) for the sustainability of the process for Phase Out of Lead
in Gasoline.
- Ken Friis Hansen (DTI) presented his institute's study on ÒCar technology and recommended fuelingÓ, the results of which will be presented on the Third Task Force Meeting in October of this year.
Day Three
- A visit to the "Neftochim" refinery in Bourgas was conducted by all participants.
At a meeting with Ivan Sariev, Bojan Stoimenov and Grigor Vessov, presentations
were given on the technology and organization, as well as the problems the
refinery experiences regarding the transition to the production of unleaded
gasoline. A bus took visitors around the site.
- The phase out programs of Bulgaria, Romania and Slovenia were discussed
in small groups and a schedule was developed for their implementation. It
was agreed in during the later discussion that this approach was beneficial
and should be applied for the all programs before being submitted for approval.
- Working Group members then took the following decisions regarding the
specific issues of SILAQ:
- Country Reports should be revised and if necessary completed according to outline discussed on Day One and should be submitted to the Liaison Officer for the Programme, Mihail Staynov, by 31 August 1997.
- By July 15, 1997, Working Group members should present to the Liaison Officer statements, comments and proposals on the still to be developed Questionnaire for SOx and Particulate Emissions. By July 31, 1997, the Liaison Officer will have incorporated the proposals and distributed the Questionnaires in their final form. By September 30, 1997, the given countries should submit to the Liaison Officer the completed Questionnaires and the draft versions of Country Reports.
- The Workshop was closed with the conclusion that it was very useful and beneficial. The majority of the materials presented were copied and disseminated among the participating countries. Those materials presented in the last few sessions will be copied and disseminated to the participants later. A list of the materials presented and additional late materials will be attached to the report from the meeting. Sets of materials will be also disseminated to those countries which could not attend the Workshop.
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