July 19, 2005
The U.S.–Asia Environmental Partnership (US-AEP), a program of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Vietnam Standards Center, and Vietnam Register will host a national workshop entitled "Adoption of Euro Standards for Vehicle Emissions and Fuel Quality" on July 19 in Hanoi and July 21 in HCMC. The workshop highlights the important linkages between adverse health effects and air pollution caused by vehicle and motorbike emissions in cities.
During the workshop experts from Vietnam, China, Thailand, and the U.S. will stress the importance of developing a national strategy for cleaner fuel and vehicle emissions, and offer recommendations on ways to improve air quality through tighter fuel standards, new emission control technologies, alternative fuels, and economic policy instruments.
Dr. Ho Tat Thang, Deputy General Director of the Directorate for Standards and Quality (STAMEQ) of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Mr. Nguyen Van Ban, General Director of Vietnam Register of the Ministry of Transport, and Mr. Nathan Sage, Environment Program Manager of USAID/Vietnam will make the opening remarks.
US-AEP has been assisting the Government of Vietnam since 1999 to promote cleaner and healthier cities. In follow-up to the successful phase-out of leaded gas in 2001, STAMEQ, Vietnam Register, and private companies such as Ford Motor and Honda Motorbike have pledged their support for a medium-term fuel quality and vehicle emission strategy with a goal of achieving Euro 4 standards by 2010.
At the workshop, it is expected that Dr. Vu Van Dien, Director of Vietnam Standards Center, will announce new gasoline and diesel quality standards (equivalent to Euro 2). The national workshops in Hanoi and HCMC aim to gain industry-wide consensus from vehicle manufacturers, refineries, and fuel retailers to the new gas and diesel standards.
Mr. Pham Quang Thanh, Deputy Director of the Vehicle Quality Department at Vietnam Register, will describe a proposed project for a new vehicle emission testing center that will allow Vietnam Resister to enforce stricter emission standards for vehicle manufacturers.
Mr. Cao Xuan Vinh, Head of the Environmental Department of Vietnam Register, will describe a plan by Vietnam Register to introduce liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in Vietnam for the transport sector. In addition, there are currently several pilot projects promoting cleaner fuels for transportation in Vietnam, including the introduction of LPG buses and motorcycles in Danang city.
Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, a Director at the International Fuel Quality Center, will share best international practices on tightening and monitoring fuel quality specifications. Mr. Michael Walsh, a retired expert from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will discuss policy recommendations from a US-AEP-funded Cost and Benefits Analysis for Adoption of Euro Fuels and Vehicles Standards to Reduce Emissions in Vietnam.
Dr. Robert O’Keefe, Vice President of the Health Effects Institute in Boston, USA will address the issue of health effects of air pollution. Several research studies indicate that levels of emissions from vehicles are positively correlated with heart, brain and respiratory problems, as well as cancer, particularly among sensitive populations such as children and the elderly.
Dr. Supat Wangwongwatana, Deputy Director General of the Pollution Control Department, Thailand will point out that between 2,100 to 5,500 premature deaths were attributed to air pollution in Bangkok in one year. Since introduction of cleaner fuels and emissions standards, the air in Bangkok has improved significantly. Experiences from regional countries such as China and Thailand demonstrate the importance of developing a strategy before air pollution becomes a serious problem.
Dr. Fu Lixin from Tsinghua University in China will note that strong governance and a science-based approach are needed for effective management of air pollution. China has developed a national strategy for clean fuels and vehicles, including restrictions on motorcycles and old vehicles, introduction of compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, and enforcement of stringent emissions standards.
Knowing what the fuel standards will be in the future is critical to the petroleum industry. "Vietnam is in the process of building two new refineries, the first of their kind in the country. It is urgent, therefore, that the government tighten fuel quality specifications before the refineries are built in order to avoid the higher costs in the future of upgrading the technology of the refineries to meet stricter quality standards. This is an important lesson learned from the mistakes of many other countries such as Indonesia." Mrs. Phan Quynh Nhu, Clean Cities Coordinator at U.S.-AEP Vietnam.
Mr. Nathan Sage, USAID Vietnam Environment Program Manager stressed that, "Air pollution is a serious problem. About four million people in Vietnam, equivalent to five percent of the population, suffer from allergies and other respiratory illnesses. Moving toward cleaner fuels and vehicles today will save lives tomorrow."
Note to Journalists: Those wishing to learn more about the workshops can call Mr. Nathan Sage, Environment Program Manager at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) office in Hanoi at (4) 935-1222.
