Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands – known collectively as the Benelux countries – have committed to exporting clean fuels to countries in the Global South with the aim of significantly improving environmental and public health. This decision follows years of efforts to develop stricter standards for the export of polluting fuels to non-European countries.
In 2016, five West African countries recommended a ban on the import of dirty fuels from Europe to reduce vehicle emissions and help millions of people breath safer and cleaner air. A 2018 study by the Netherlands’ Human Environment and Transport Inspectorate (ILT) revealed that fuel exports with high levels of harmful substances were still reaching these countries. ILT monitors and promotes the safety of transport. Its report revealed that gasoline and diesel bound for the region were often blended with low-quality, untreated refinery products. This practice allowed oil companies to maximize profits while exploiting the lenient fuel regulations of the importing countries.
Netherlands and Belgium take action
Following the data from the report, the ILT introduced a policy rule to set requirements for the levels of benzene, sulphur and manganese in exported road fuels. ILT advocated for companies in the Netherlands to only produce and export fuels of a higher quality to prevent negative consequences for human health and the environment. In 2023, the Netherlands, one of the largest producers and exporters of fuels to West Africa, heeded the call and complied with the policy guidelines, halting the shipment of substandard fuel from Dutch ports.
The Netherlands’ decision to stop exports of low-quality fuel meant that Antwerp, Belgium’s main sea terminal for oil trade, became the primary hub for exporting toxic motor fuels. Recognizing the issue, Belgium joined Netherlands in May 2024 and banned the export of fuels that fail to meet domestic environmental standards. The ban, which took effect in September 2024, showed Belgium’s commitment to ensuring that harmful fuels prohibited within its borders are not sent to other nations.
Earlier this year, the two countries along with Luxembourg strengthened those decisions by developing cleaner fuel guidelines as a union. The countries also discussed taking up the issue with the wider European Union.
A global shift towards cleaner fuels
According to 2024 data from the European Fuel Manufacturers Association, oil companies were still exporting fuels with a sulphur content as high as 1,500 parts per million (ppm) far exceeding the European standards that are capped at 10 ppm. Such disparities in fuel quality elevate the urgency to continue advocating for stricter regulations globally.
The shipping of dirty fuels to Africa not only contributes to air pollution and poses severe health risks to people but also violates two international environmental treaties: the Bamako Convention which bans the import of hazardous waste, including “all substances banned for health or environmental reasons in the country of manufacture” into Africa, and the Basel Convention, which prohibits the export of hazardous waste, as defined in the importing countries.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has been supporting countries to develop policies and implement standards to eliminate high-sulphur fuels and transition to cleaner alternatives. Since 2002, UNEP has continued to work with government and regional bodies of developing countries to initiate, harmonize and formalize higher fuel standards. The Benelux decision marks yet another significant milestone in the UNEP’s clean fuels campaign, which a successful 19-year effort that led to the global elimination of automotive leaded petrol. In December 2005, the Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles members agreed to set sulphur content limits of 50ppm and below for petrol and diesel fuels.
There has been considerable progress in lowering sulphur levels in Africa, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Central and Easter Europe. While some of this progress has been at city and national levels, concerted efforts to support sub-regions to have a harmonized approach to cleaner fuels accelerates this progress. For example, the East Africa Community became the first sub-region on the African continent to implement low-sulphur fuel standards in January 2015. These regulations initially allowed a maximum sulphur content of 50 ppm in diesel and 150 ppm in petrol, with petrol sulphur further reduced to 50 ppm in 2019.
A more sustainable future
The Benelux Committee of Ministers’ decision to align their national legislation with stricter fuel export standards by 1 January 2027, sets a precedent for responsible trade practices in Europe for more sustainable fuel exports. This not only protects the environment and public health of the importing nations but also sets an example for other fuel-exporting regions to follow.
This commitment to cleaner fuel exports is a crucial step towards achieving global environmental justice. It acknowledges that the responsibility to reduce air pollution extend across all borders. As more countries adopt and enforce higher fuel standards, the world moves closer to achieving the climate targets of cleaner air and healthier communities.
Clean Fuels and Vehicles Programme
The UNEP Clean Fuels and Vehicles Programme works with public and private entities to support the transition to low-carbon road transport. To achieve this, the programme advocates for vehicle emission and fuel standards and promotes the adoption of cleaner technologies. This decision aims to address rising air pollution, tackle climate change and enhance road safety. The programme’s Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles (PCFV), a successful 19-year campaign, led to the global elimination of automotive leaded petrol. The programme is currently working with countries to meet the agreed goal of 50 ppm and below Sulphur in petrol and diesel fuels.
