Estudo das especificações dos derivados de petróleo - gasolina e óleo diesel - histórico e perspectivas

Abstract

The present work discusses the evolution of the quality of automotive gasoline and diesel in Brazil through a study of governmental regulations since 1938. This historical overview emphasizes the fragility of this sector relative to economic and social policies both nationally and internationally. An example of this is the variation in the amount of ethyl alcohol added to gasoline, which has oscillated between 13% and 26% v/v in the last decades. Environmental issues have gained much importance in the last decade, and since oil derived fuels are heavy pollutants and harmful to the environment, some changes have been made to their specifications, particularly towards reductions on sulphur emissions both from gasoline and diesel. For gasoline, sulphur allowance has been reduced by 60% and for diesel by 80%. Another important issue is the benzene allowance in gasoline, which has been by 50% since 1999. In general, Brazilian and international fuel specifications are fairly similar. However, with regard to environmental standards, particularly with respect to the sulphur content in diesel and emissions control, foreign standards are more advanced. Market competitiveness is another important regulatory issue in Brazil, since until the late 1990s oil processing was a state monopoly. Besides, the fuel distribution market was recklessly deregulated in the early 1990s, generating a great confusion in this sector. This has demanded great attention from ANP, the Brazilian regulatory agency for the petroleum sector. Some of the actions taken include: 1) solvent marking, in order to avoid fuel adulteration; 2) all solvent production and imports must have previous authorization from ANP; c) a fuel quality statistical monitoring program, in partnership with University laboratories throughout the country; and d) changes in fuel tax structure, aiming at reducing tax evasion. Some results have already been obtained as a consequence of these actions. For instance, quality problems on gasoline have decreased from a nationwide level of 12,5% in 2000 to 6,1% in July 2002, and from 6,7% to 5,3% for diesel. Fuel quality has been steadily improving worldwide, specially due to pressure from environmental issues. In the USA and Europe there is a trend for sulphur content on diesel to be reduced to as little as 10 ppm by 2007. In Brazil, however, this reduction is expected to be much lower, with sulphur content being expected to reach 50 to 500 ppm by 2009. In order to reach the international quality levels predicted to be in place by 2009, Brazilian oil processing industry will demand great investments, both from PETROBRAS and other national and international oil companies. In order to guarantee both good quality fuel and an open competitive fuel market, ANP will have a very important role to play so that a good balance can be reached that will protect the environment, the consumer and society as a whole.