NOTICE UNDER SECTION 17E OF THE FUEL QUALITY STANDARDS ACT 2000 CONCERNING A DECISION TO VARY AN APPROVAL GRANTED UNDER SECTION 13
I, Andrew McNee, Assistant Secretary, Environment Protection Branch, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, delegate of the Minister, provide the following information concerning my decision made pursuant to section 17E of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 (the Act) to vary an approval granted under section 13 of the Act to add regulated persons to the approval.
Name of approval holder
Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd
Period of operation
The Approval, as varied, comes into force on the date of signing and remains in force until 24 May 2014.
Details of the approval
The purpose of the variation is to add four regulated persons (as set out in the instrument of variation) to the Approval.
The approval varies the fuel standard for automotive diesel set out in the Fuel Standard (Automotive Diesel) Determination 2001 (the Diesel Determination) so that automotive diesel with:
- a maximum five per cent biodiesel content (B5) containing a minimum derived cetane number of 46 and a maximum density of 852 kg/m3; and
- more than five per cent but no greater than 20 per cent biodiesel content (B20) containing a minimum derived cetane number of 46 and a maximum density of 860 kg/m3,
will be taken to comply with the Diesel Determination.
The approval is subject to conditions set out in Annexure 2 to the approval instrument and in section 17 of the Act.
Summary of reasons for the approval
I grant the approval as provided for in section 15 of the Act for the following reasons:
a) The protection of the environment: Most diesel supplies in Australia are capable of producing blended product that meets the minimum 51 DCN. Mobil indicates that it expects that most of its proposed supply will meet the maximum density and minimum cetane requirements in the Diesel Determination. Therefore the variation in cetane and density of the fuel subject to Mobil’s application for a year period is not expected to cause significant environmental impacts.
b) The protection of occupational and public health and safety: It is unlikely that occupational and public health and safety will be significantly affected by a variation in biodiesel, cetane and density parameters for the fuels subject to Mobil’s application.
c) The interests of consumers: Although variations in biodiesel, cetane level and density can affect engine performance, on the basis of current experience, the addition of extra regulated persons to the approval is not expected to have significant impacts on consumers.
d) The impact on economic and regional development: The Approval is expected to allow the development of markets. Four companies will benefit from their listing as Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd additional regulated persons. This may help support employment in regional areas of Australia.
Andrew McNee
Assistant Secretary
24 July 2013