China's new fuel standard

Under pressure, Sinopec launches cleaner Beijing Six gasoline

After years of foot-dragging, China's Sinopec began supplying Beijing with its new lower-emission Beijing Six grade of petrol and diesel during February. The capital's residents should breathe a little more freely. A breakthrough for China, the fuel is considered a world-class standard that draws on technology from the EU and US. "Beijing Six promises tremendous emission reductions for all types of conventional pollutants," notes the G20-funded consultancy, International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The fuel is certainly a major advance on China Five, the current standard that is still being rolled out elsewhere in the country and is due to be available everywhere by the end of 20