A decree of the Government of Georgia on the importation into the country from 2023 of only diesel fuel conforming to the Euro-5 standard has entered into force, the portal reported BM.ge.

The decision was made in order to reduce the level of environmental pollution," said Nino Tandilashvili, Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

"For diesel, we plan to establish the Euro-5 standard from 2023 and, of course, along with the establishment of the standard, the state constantly monitors the quality of fuel. The results of the inspection show that gasoline complies with the norms established by the legislation. As for diesel, there are some problems, there are cases when diesel fuel does not meet the current standard, and, of course, we have quite tough sanctions here," Tandilashvili said.

In order to reduce environmental damage, another change will come into force this year. A draft amendment to the Code of Administrative Offences has already been prepared, which provides for maximum control of vehicles with visual emissions.

The use of Euro-5 diesel fuel standards was planned back in 2020, but then it was postponed. Presumably, Georgia will be able to receive diesel fuel conforming to the European standard from Azerbaijan, where the refinery has been modernized for several years.

The fight against harmful air and nature pollution constantly increases the requirements for the environmental safety of fuel.

The first such step was taken in 1993, when the EU countries adopted the Euro-1 document, which established a new system of standards for diesel fuel EN 590. This system classifies the use of fuel depending on the temperature regime and climatic conditions in the regions of use.

The latest Euro-5 standard, which replaced Euro-4, tightens the requirements for the quality of the fuel used, which makes it possible to increase environmental safety and improve the characteristics of engines running on this type of fuel.

Euro 5 diesel fuel is characterized by the presence of a small volume of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and sulfur. At the same time, its cetane number is higher.

If diesel fuel (diesel fuel) is really of high quality, it guarantees a reduction in harmful emissions into the atmosphere. Black smoke will not come out of the exhaust pipe, provided that the motor of the vehicle is in full working condition. In accordance with the requirements of Euro-5, the volume of sulfur in the composition should be within 10 mg/kg. For comparison: in Euro-3, this indicator is 350 mg/kg.

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