Costa Rica will import cleaner fuels beginning in January

November 30^th, 2012 (InsideCostaRica.com) Beginning in January, all fuels imported into Costa Rica will be more environmentally friendly, and will also cause less wear and tear on motor vehicles, according to those involved.

The Ministry of Environment, Energy and Telecommunications (MINAET), announced on Tuesday that as of 2013, the country would purchase and sell diesel and gasoline with a reduced amount of sulfur.

Sulfur is one of the main air contaminants in cities, and causes serious respiratory issues.

According to Rene Castro, Minister of Environment, Costa Rica will lower the amount of sulfur in diesel from 50 parts per million to 15 parts per million (ppm). Sulfur content in gasoline (“plus” and “super”) will be lowered from 200 ppm to 80 ppm.

Authorities said that in so doing, Costa Rica would reach the same level of standards that are required in Europe, where environmental laws are stricter.

“This is excellent news for a country that has been asking for cleaner fuels…Not only will the fuels in Costa Rica be the cleanest in Central America, but the country will be in line with the norms of the most advanced countries in Europe,” said Castro.

The new regulation will also include maximum levels of MMT (methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbony), an additive that is added to gasoline, which has been associated with various engine problems. In Costa Rica, RECOPE (Costa Rican Petroleum Refinery) had problems with MMT in their fuels recently, as several vehicle owners came forward with damage caused from the additive, which was present at a much higher level than normal in gasoline purchased by the drivers.

According to RECOPE, importing products with less sulfur will guarantee “longer lasting oil, less deterioration caused by corrosion, and less deterioration of exhaust pipes.”  They also said the impact of this measure will be reflected in the environment.

In February 2009, when RECOPE decreased the sulfur levels from 2,000 ppm to 500 ppm in diesel, the amount of sulfer expelled by vehicles in the country decreased by 1,450 tons, according to the “Universidad Nacional” (National University) Environment Analysis Laboratory.

Though RECOPE stated that there would not be any increase in the cost of the fuels, Castro said he preferred not to speculate.