VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #0603/01 0570534
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 260534Z FEB 08
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1896
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 5833
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 2795
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 3538
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 3799
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 1892
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1036
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 0186
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 4875
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEAEPA/HQ EPA WASHDC

UNCLAS AMMAN 000603 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, NEA/RA, EEB, AND OES 
STATE PASS TO USAID 
EPA FOR INTERNATIONAL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV EPET ETRD PGOV JO
SUBJECT: JORDAN STARTS SHIFT TO UNLEADED GASOLINE 
 
REF: A. Amman 407 
 
      ¶B. Amman 296 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: Jordan has begun implementation of a long-awaited 
decision to switch from regular to unleaded fuel, a change that 
officially went into effect February 8 when the Jordan Petroleum 
Refinery Company (JPRC) announced it had stopped providing gas 
stations with leaded fuel.  The Government of Jordan (GoJ) is now 
providing two types of unleaded gasoline (90- and 95-octane); 
meanwhile regular gasoline (88-octane) is being completely phased 
out over the next few weeks.  Jordan's shift to unleaded fuel is in 
response to increasing awareness of the health and environmental 
impact of leaded fuel.  With the shift there are also two new, 
related requirements:  all imported cars must have catalytic 
converters, and the adoption of U.S. standards for imported gasoline 
storage tanks.  End Summary. 
 
Inter-Ministerial Cooperation Leads to New Policy 
--------------------------------------------- ---- 
 
¶2.  (SBU) In mid-2006, the GoJ issued a decision stipulating that 
Jordan switch to unleaded fuel usage by 2008.  The ministries of 
environment (MOENV), water and irrigation (MWI), and energy and 
mineral resources (MEMR); the Jordanian Petroleum Refinery Company 
(JPRC); the Gas Stations Owners Association (GSOA); and the Jordan 
Institution for Standards and Measurements (JISM) further agreed on 
a plan to reduce leaded petrol by 70 percent in 2007, with the goal 
of a complete shift to unleaded gas in 2008.  The 2007 target was 
not achieved due to the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company's (JPRC) 
inability to produce sufficient quantities of unleaded fuel.  Now 
ready to provide the Kingdom's petrol stations with unleaded fuel, 
JPRC has increased production of unleaded petrol and stopped 
production of regular leaded gasoline. 
 
¶3.  (U) Before proceeding with the change, however, MWI formed a 
technical committee in 2007 to study and follow up on the negative 
effects of MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), a substance contained in 
unleaded fuel, to make sure MTBE would not seep into any nearby 
underground water resources.  Some of the committee findings 
indicated that if the storage tanks were of sufficient quality, 
MTBE, a volatile, flammable and colorless liquid that is relatively 
soluble in water, would not affect the underground water.  NOTE: In 
2006, the USG organized a regional workshop in Istanbul on detecting 
and preventing leaks from underground petroleum storage tanks. 
Jordan, the Palestinian Authority and Israel each sent 
representatives to the seminar.  END NOTE. 
 
¶4.  (U) Jordan's shift to unleaded fuel comes amid international 
recognition that short-term exposure to high levels of lead can 
result in brain and kidney damage, while extended exposure could 
affect the blood and central nervous systems, blood pressure, 
kidneys, and the body's ability to metabolize vitamin D.  Lead 
exposure is most serious for young children because they absorb lead 
more easily than adults and are more susceptible to its harmful 
effects.  The MOENV continues to monitor the effects of leaded 
fuel. 
 
A Comprehensive Transition Process 
---------------------------------- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The GoJ gave gas stations until February 22 to deplete 
their stocks of leaded fuel.  JPRC CEO Ahmed Refai told Econoff on 
February 21 that JPRC began the process of moving to unleaded gas 
through a soft launch by providing gas stations with more unleaded 
fuel, an approach which helped the transition go smoothly. 
Following approval of the 2008 budget and subsequent lift of fuel 
subsidies, JPRC formally announced the switch (reftels).  Gas 
stations are now selling 95-octane unleaded fuel at about 
$0.93/liter ($3.44/gallon) and 90-octane fuel at $0.810/liter 
($3.06/gallon), an average increase of 6 percent. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) In addition to making the switch to unleaded fuel, JISM 
adopted 38 U.S. standards related to petroleum equipment, and has 
requested the Jordan Customs Department and the Public Security 
Directorate verify that all imported vehicles are fitted with 
catalytic converters.  JISM Director Dr. Yaseen Khayyat previously 
told ESTH officer that imported cars often had their catalytic 
converters removed so drivers could use the cheaper leaded petrol. 
Minister of Environment Khaled Irani relayed to ESTH officer that 
the majority of cars in Jordan that currently do not have catalytic 
converters will be able to use unleaded fuel, although their 
emissions would not be on par with cars having catalytic converters. 
 
¶7.  (U) According to Dr. Khayyat, JSIM has prepared a comprehensive 
surveillance plan for gas stations to confirm compliance with new 
regulations.  To realize this plan, JISM has employed 43 individuals 
(30 in Amman, 5 in the southern governorates, and 8 in the northern 
governorate).  The MOENV, MEMR, and GSOA are also working together 
to determine whether gas stations' underground storage tanks are 
clean and in compliance.  According to JPRC, gas station owners will 
be responsible for replacing all fuel tanks that do not meet the 
required standards.    The new tanks will be insulated with 
double-walls; old tanks that meet the new specifications will be 
cleaned and refilled with unleaded gasoline after the leaded fuel is 
pumped out. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
HALE