Bahrain hosts 15 countries for key Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) meeting on clean fuels and vehicles

Pictured at the opening of the meeting is (third from left) the chief guest H.E. Dr. Abdul-Hussain Ali Mirza, Minister of Oil & Gas Affairs and Chairman of the Oil & Gas Authority, Kingdom of Bahrain, flanked by UNEP Director of the Regional Office for West Asia (ROWA), 2nd right, Dr Habib El-Habr, Dr. Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al-Twaijeri Under Secretary General (2nd left) from the League of Arab States (LAS) for Economic Affairs, Prof. Dr. Ismail Al-Madani, (extreme left) Vice President & Director General Environment & Wildlife Affairs, Public Commission for the Protection of the Marine Resources, Environment and Wild Life, kingdom of Bahrain, and Mr. Clarence Woo (extreme right), Executive Director, Asian Clean Fuels Association (ACFA).

Bahrain, which combines a modern outlook and the striking skyline of Manama with a rich history, was host to 125 delegates on March 12-13th, 2008 for a key policy development meeting on clean fuels and vehicles for the region.

The meeting had broad attendance from countries in the region, which included representatives from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen, U.A.E and the hosts, Bahrain.

The meeting was opened by H.E. Dr. Abdul-Hussain Ali Mirza who emphasized the need for States to provide clean air and a good environment for its citizenry. The minister was accompanied by Prof. Dr. Ismail Al-Madani. Participants, who represented diverse and critical stakeholders in governments, industry, international organisations, NGO’s overwhelmingly made the case for better air quality. Recommendations, arrived at after an intensive two days of deliberation that included working group sessions, included a call for remaining countries ion the region, to phase-out leaded gasoline. Also recommended was an endorsement for countries to adopt low sulphur fuels as adopted by both the League of Arab States and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The meeting heralded the launch of the PCFV’s Middle East, North Africa and West Asia program to support a region where leaded gasoline is still in use, high fuel Sulphur levels are the norm and with limited legislation of vehicle standards.

Participants resolved to work within their national arena to create national programs that will develop fuel roadmaps with specific sulphur levels and implementation dates, as targets.

Experts’ presentations were given by, Mr. Michael Walsh, an international consultant, USEPA, FIA Foundation, Salzburg AG Utilities, Neste Oil Corporation, IFQC and UNEP. Case studies from Bahrain and Lebanon were also presented.

As a result, UNEP and the Asian Clean Fuels Association have been invited to present at the Gulf Standards Organization (GSO) meeting in regard to standards for sulphur levels in motor-vehicle fuels: the GCC sub-region is expected to lower diesel sulphur levels to 50 ppm or lower by 2010 (also see article: “Gulf Countries work towards a Low Sulphur road map in this issue

[see Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Policy Development meeting for Recommendations, presentations and agenda http://www.unep.org/pcfv/meetings/GCCmeeting.asp]