BRANCH HEAD, LIQUID FUELS BRANCH
DEPARTMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY, THE ENVIRONMENT AND WATER
NOTICE UNDER SECTION 17A OF THE FUEL QUALITY STANDARDS ACT 2000 CONCERNING AN APPROVAL TO VARY THE FUEL QUALITY STANDARDS (AUTOMOTIVE DIESEL) DETERMINATION 2019 GRANTED UNDER SECTION 13 OF THAT ACT – BP AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (EXPIRY 31 DECEMBER 2025)
I, Miranda Lello, Branch Head, Liquid Fuels Branch, delegate of the Minister for Climate Change and Energy, provide the following information concerning my decision to grant an approval under section 13 of the Fuel Quality Standards Act 2000 (the Act).
Name of approval holder
bp Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 53 004 085 616)
Periods of operation
The approval comes into force on the date below and remains in force until 31 December 2025.
Details of the approval
This approval varies the fuel standard for diesel set out in the Fuel Quality Standards (Automotive diesel) Determination 2019 (the Diesel Determination), so that automotive diesel:
- containing a maximum of five per cent biodiesel content (B5) with a minimum derived cetane number of 46 and a maximum density of 852 kg/m3
is taken to comply with the relevant parameters specified in the Diesel Determination in respect of the supply of diesel biodiesel blended fuel for existing and potential customers.
The approval is granted subject to the conditions specified in section 17 of the Act and the condition specified in Annexure 1 of the approval.
This approval applies to B5 supplied by the approval holder and the regulated persons specified in Annexure 2 of the approval.
Summary of reasons for the approval
Having consulted with the Fuel Standards Consultative Committee as required by section 24A of the Act, and after considering the criteria in section 15 of the Act, I grant the approval for the following reasons:
(a) The protection of the environment
Tailpipe emissions from diesel-biodiesel blend use, compared to diesel, will have both positive and negative impacts on air quality as the level of biodiesel in the blend increases. In general, emissions of oxides of nitrogen increase, but particulate matter, hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide emissions all decrease.
(b) The protection of occupational and public health and safety
Diesel with up to 5 per cent biodiesel has been shown to be similar to mineral diesel. The impact on occupational and public health and safety should be no greater than diesel already supplied to the market.
(c) The interests of consumers
Granting of this variation increases the opportunity to reduce GHG emissions compared with mineral diesel. It also gives the opportunity for consumers to purchase more sustainably produced fuels.
There are no operability issues with blends up to 5% as evidenced by the allowance of such blends under the diesel standard, with the biodiesel component of the blend assisting with fuel lubricity and engine operation.
(d) The impact on economic and regional development
Granting this variation would enable biofuel wholesalers to meet the Queensland and NSW Biofuels Mandates. Enabling the supply of this fuel would support local Australian biodiesel producers and the development of the Australian biodiesel industry.
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Miranda Lello
Branch Head, Liquid Fuels Branch
15 December 2022