New European Specifications Looks Good for Shell GTL Products from Qatar

Doha, April 25 (QNA) -The European Committee for Standardization (CEN) has announced that the EN15940 standard for paraffinic diesel fuels, such as Shell gas-to-liquid (GTL) fuel, was ratified on 15 April. Shell was involved in the nine-year consultation process having first proposed the creation of a specification in 2007, before the largest GTL facility, Pearl GTL, came on-stream in Qatar. EN15940 will now create a standardized platform for markets to develop around paraffinic fuels. These 100% finished fuels can be used as drop-in fuels with a potential to improve air quality without need for engine modifications or changes in fuel infrastructure. "This is a significant milestone for our Shell GTL Fuel business. EN15940 will now become the fuel standard that is referred to when manufacturers and legislators stipulate conditions specifically concerning use of paraffinic fuels," said Michael Flynn, general manager for GTL products at Shell. "For example, manufacturers may now consider adding EN15940 to a list of approved fuels in their equipment user manuals. This will also bring quality and safety assurances to customers. Shell believes GTL fuel will play an increasingly important role in the fuel mix for heavy duty transport, be it road or marine, and machinery, especially in regions where governments are keen to improve local air emissions immediately", he added. Paraffinic diesel fuels are liquid fuels that can be synthetically manufactured from feedstock such as natural gas (gas-to-liquid), biomass (biomass-to-liquid), coal (coal-to-liquid) or from hydro-treating vegetable oil. Shell GTL Fuel is part of the emerging paraffinic fuel market, offering a cleaner-burning alternative fuel produced at Pearl GTL in Ras Laffan, in partnership with Qatar Petroleum. This world-scale plant produces 140,000 barrels per day of GTL products, including Shell GTL Fuel. Shell GTL Fuel can be used as a drop-in fuel in diesel engines without the need for engine modifications, new infrastructure or vehicle investment. It is virtually Sulphur and aromatics-free, readily biodegradable and non-toxic. Shell GTL Fuel also helps reduce local emissions of nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. It is commercially available to customers in Europe, primarily in The Netherlands, Germany, the UK, Denmark and France. Paraffinic fuels do not fully meet the EN590 specification as they have slightly lower density but they now offer significantly improved and favourable fuel properties. They compensate for their low density with higher energy content and certain number and the higher consistency of the fuel molecules mean they combust more uniformly in diesel engines compared with conventional refinery diesel, resulting in lower emissions. Shell has conducted several field trials on Shell GTL Fuel in major cities around the world over the past decade, covering over one million kilometers. Key market segments for Shell GTL Fuel include city utility vehicles and public transport, inland and seagoing marine vessels, construction machinery and vehicles, power generation equipment, aviation ground fleets and rail. For example, it is currently being used by heavy-lifting and transport specialist Mammoet and the City of Groningens utility vehicles, both in The Netherlands; luxury river cruise operators on the Seine in France and the first GTL-fuelled offshore vessel, Kroonborg, in the North Sea, among many other customers. (QNA)