Roapmad on emission control: Difficult due to lack of initiatives

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In the first 3 months of 2017, the production of automobiles faced up with many difficulties due to Decision 49/2011/QĐ-TTg. Photo: Nguyen Ha.

In September 2011, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 49/2011/QD-TTg (Decision 49) on the roadmap for application of emission standards for assembled and imported automobiles and motorcycles. Accordingly, newly manufactured, assembled and imported automobiles must comply with emission standards at level 4 from 1st January 2017. Newly manufactured, assembled and imported motorcycles must comply with emission standards at level 3 from 1st January 2017.

Decision 49 was promulgated from September 2011. It meant that by January 2017, this Decision has been in place for nearly 6 years. Obviously, it was not a short time for implementation, but Ministries and functional forces did not try their best.

In November 2016, at a meeting chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr. Trinh Dinh Dung with Ministries, State agencies in the field of petroleum businesses and the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA), it was noted that State agencies and enterprises did not implement Decision 49 effectively.

Therefore, the meeting reached a conclusion as follows: “Gasoline engines for automobiles are prescribed in Decision 49; tourist cars and diesel-powered buses shall comply with emission standards at level 4 from 1^st January 2018 and diesel-powered trucks will comply with emission standard level 4 from 2022”. However, under this roadmap, Ministries have a series of tasks to do.

Besides, on 5^th January 2017, the Ministry of Transport issued a document to consult Ministries on the amendment of Decision 49 and delay in the application of emission standards at level 4 for a number of vehicles. According to the Ministry of Transport, in order to meet emission standards at level 4, there is a need for modern technology and high cost, which is only commensurate with advanced countries. Therefore, the Ministry of Transport has proposed to delay the application of emission standards at level 4 for a number of diesel-powered vehicles.

On 23^rd December 2016, VAMA also reported to the Prime Minister to delay the application of emission standards at level 4 for a number of diesel-powered vehicles because there has not been enough fuel for vehicles to comply with emission standards at level 4.

Many problems

Although Decision 49 clearly stated the date of implementation of regulations on emission standards from 1^st January 2017, domestic enterpries have not yet made measures to produce and assemble suitable engines due to the delay of Ministries on guidance of enterprises

According to the Ministry of Transport, to 31^st December 2016, there were 6 types of engines to be certified to meet emission standards at level 4. According to the Lang Son Customs Department, from the beginning of 2017 to date, there have been about 200 trucks to be imported, which have not met the standard of Euro 4. According to the Vietnam Register Department, from the beginning of 2017 to date, there have been more than 10,000 imported trucks failing to meet the emission standards under Decision 49.

According to the regulations of the Ministry of Transport, when importing automobiles, enterprises shall submit to the Vietnam Register the dossier of registration. On this basis, the Vietnam Register will consider current regulations to determine whether enterprises are approved or not .The dossier of enterprises submitted to Customs authorities must be certified by the Vietnam Register under current regulations.

Responsibility?

Contrary to the expectations of Ministries, State agencies and businesses, on 13^th March 2017, the Government Office announced the Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s conclusion No. 126/TB-VPCP on the roadmap of vehicles emission standards under Decision 49. Particularly, regulations on diesel-powered vehicles will be applied from 31^st December 2017.

In fact, it is not simple for State agencies to strictly comply with the Prime Minister's instructions because these agencies did not have initiatives in preparation and implementation.

Currently, petroleum in Vietnam is supplied from Dung Quat Oil Refinery and from imports. According to a report of the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group, Dung Quat Oil Refinery can produce 2.48 million tons of petroleum and 2.33 million tons of diesel each year (accounting for 30% of the market) but these products can not meet Vietnam standard QCVN4: 2015/BKHCN (Euro 4). Nghi Son petrochemical complex can also nearly produce 4 million tons of diesel and oil but these products can not meet the requirements of QCVN4: 2015/BKHCN.

Not until 2021-2022, when the Dung Quat Refinery is upgraded and expanded, can it supply fuel equivalent to Euro 4.

In fact, in many countries, fuel standards are often released before emission standards. But now in Vietnam, we issue emission standards first and then release fuel standards. The Vietnam market is mainly supplying petroleum and oil with emission standard at level 2. Accordingly, the Ministry of Transport also said: The domestic market is not currently providing diesel and oil with quality at level 4.

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The fault in preparation and implementation of the roadmap on new emission standards belongs to State agencies. Therefore, in Announcement No.126, the Prime Minister has requested the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group to report on the performance of assigned tasks in Decision No. 49/2011/QD-TTg.