Why should AI-80 Gasoline be phased out?
2025-01-21 12:00:00 / News
During a video conference chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on January 29, 2024, addressing priority tasks for 2024 in housing and utilities, construction, transportation, and ecology, officials were instructed to phase out AI-80 gasoline starting in 2025.
Importantance
The number of vehicles in Uzbekistan, particularly in the capital, has sharply increased, contributing to air pollution, public health issues and a rise in complaints about dust, harmful gases and smog in urban areas.
According to international statistics:
59% of global air pollution emissions come from vehicles,
21% from industrial enterprises, and
20% from electricity production.
AI-80 gasoline generates higher emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, hydrocarbons and PM2.5 pollutants compared to other motor fuels. Its use accumulates pollutants and heavy metals in the atmosphere, exacerbating environmental damage.
Practical Implementation
The draft decree proposes restricting the use and sale of motor fuels below the "Euro-4" standard by the end of 2025. To prevent a surge in vehicle emissions and urban air pollution, particularly in major cities like Tashkent, a strict ban on the customs clearance of AI-80 gasoline is recommended starting March 1, 2025.
Additionally, the production of AI-80 gasoline in Uzbekistan, regardless of organizational structure, is proposed to be prohibited starting January 1, 2026.
International Experience
In the European Union, fuel quality is regulated by Euro standards. "Euro-4", introduced in 2005, prohibits the use of low-quality fuels like AI-80.
In January 2024, Ethiopia banned the import of vehicles running on gasoline and diesel, reducing fuel import costs and benefiting the environment.
Chile and the United States aim to end the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles by 2035 to cut carbon emissions. In CIS countries like Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan, AI-80 gasoline and other low-octane fuels are banned, with tax incentives provided for switching to high-octane fuels or importing electric vehicles.
What Are the Benefits?
Phasing out AI-80 gasoline will significantly reduce vehicle emissions, improving air quality, public health and environmental protection. Adopting eco-friendly transportation technologies will drive innovation, create new jobs and align the country with international environmental standards. This will also boost Uzbekistan's ecological reputation on the global stage.
The draft of the Presidential Decree is available on the Uzbekistan-2030 National Strategy portal for public and expert discussion until January 22. You can participate by submitting your suggestions and comments through the portal at uzbekistan2030.uz or the Telegram bot @Ekologiya_yili_bot! The draft is available in Uzbek and Russian.