The milestone was celebrated at the refinery today with the Member for Geelong Province and the Parliamentary Secretary for the Environment, The Hon. Elaine Carbines, MLC, unveiling a commemorative plaque.
“This is a great outcome. The production of low benzene fuel has benefits – not just for Geelong but also for Victoria and the rest of the nation,” Ms Carbines said.
“Across Australia, the use of low benzene fuel from the Geelong refinery is reducing benzene emissions from vehicles by at least 66 per cent.*
“In addition, benzene emissions from the Geelong refinery have dropped by more than a quarter as a result of the production of low benzene fuel,” Ms Carbines added.
Emissions from the refinery, which were already well within public health and environmental guidelines, are even lower as a result of the production of low benzene fuel. Benzene levels in fuel have reduced from three per cent to one per cent, in line with Federal Government legislation that came into being on 1 January 2006. Shell Geelong Refinery produces around half of Victoria’s and almost all of Tasmania’s fuel. Fuel produced in Geelong is also distributed to most other states across Australia.
Ms Carbines was joined in the celebration of the one billion litre milestone by Russell Caplan, Chairman of Shell in Australia, other officials and employees of Shell Geelong Refinery.
Mr Caplan said that the low benzene petrol, combined with Shell’s significant investment late in 2004 on ultra low sulphur diesel, reflected the company’s commitment to cleaner fuels.
“Shell has made a multi-million dollar commitment to the production of cleaner fuels,” Mr Caplan said.
“One of our greatest challenges is to meet the needs of Australians for fuel while minimising the environmental impact of our operations. In the past two years, Shell has invested $AUD340 million on facilities in Australia to produce cleaner fuels. Around $AUD210 million of this has been spent in Geelong,” Mr Caplan said. * Benzene is a naturally-occurring hydrocarbon found in many substances including crude oil. It helps increase the octane rating of petrol to the level needed by engines to provide acceptable fuel economy and performance. Most benzene is emitted by the exhausts of motor vehicles. Use of low benzene fuel means that benzene emissions from vehicles are at least 66% lower. The exact amount reduced is dependent on the efficiency of the vehicle’s engine.
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