Qatar adopts Euro 5 standards for heavy vehicles

In a major move that will strengthen environmental protection, the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) has adopted the policy of using higher grade and cleaner premium diesel fuel that meets the European emission standard Euro 5 specifications. MoTC tweeted that this will apply for imported trucks and buses starting with models manufactured for 2022.

The plan, according to the tweet, is to implement the initiative in coordination with various bodies concerned including Qatar Petroleum (QP), the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology (QS) and the General Directorate of Traffic.

“The major goals of the initiative include creating a cleaner, healthier and safer environment for current and coming generations while bringing down carbon emission by 17% by 2022 in a move to reduce greenhouse gases, combat climate change and maintain an economic-environmental balance,” the tweet said.

The policy is adopted as part of the ongoing strategy to switch to eco-friendly electric vehicles in Qatar while upgrading the specifications of buses and trucks to conform to the clean Euro 5 diesel. MoTC said this will help achieve environmental sustainability by rolling out more of clean technologies, clean fuel and electrical energy to reduce vehicle exhausts and harmful carbon emissions.

The Euro 5 specification provides best standards and modern technologies. The specification for carbon monoxide (CO) does not exceed 1.5% while Euro 2 diesel specification causes more pollution . With Euro 5 specification, maximum diesel sulfur content is 10 parts per million (ppm) and smoke opacity is 1.0-1.5 ppm while diesel sulfur content is as high as 500 ppm and smoke opacity is up to 0.46 ppm with Euro 2 specification.

Currently, MoTC is working on the strategy for shifting to eco-friendly vehicles and encouraging the public to use the multimodal public transit system. Several strategic projects to develop the bus network and provide a fresh set of special routes and services along with initiatives to provide the necessary infrastructure and relevant logistic services are being implemented by the MoTC. Among these, are building eight bus stations and four bus depots and various parking spaces for vehicles and buses, establishing 2700 bus stops and setting up stations and parking spaces for water taxis. These projects are implemented in collaboration with the Public Works Authority (Ashghal).

The Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation (Kahramaa), in coordination with MoTC, has developed a strategy for electric and hybrid vehicles for Qatar in order to secure the country's needs of clean energy permanently and regularly. This is in addition to identifying the alternatives to secure it and thus help the country achieve Qatar's second National Development Strategy (2018- 2022) and Qatar National Vision 2030.