Brussels, 05/10/2011 (Agence Europe) - In an effort to tackle the environmental impact of non-conventional fossil fuels, the European Commission is proposing, as part of a framework directive on fuel quality, to reassess the greenhouse gas emissions impact of these kinds of fuels. Fuels that are particularly targeted include tar sands and shale oils, which are particularly controversial in Europe. MEPs from across the political horizon, including ecologists from NGOs, welcomed the courage displayed by Commissioner Hedegaard with regard to pressure exerted by industry.
Similarly to its commissioner for climate change, Connie Hedegaard, the European Commission is seeking to introduce measures for limiting the use of the most environmentally damaging fuels. On 4 October, the European Commission addressed a proposal to member states, which intends to take fuel quality into consideration, as well as greenhouse gas emissions linked to their production. The use of tar sands and shale clays for oil and gas production require more energy than through traditional drilling techniques and consequently produce more greenhouse gas emissions. Hedegaard will therefore grade oil from tar sands as producing higher greenhouse gas emission levels. Emissions linked to the extraction of crude oil are therefore estimated at 87.5 grams in equivalent CO2 per mega joule, tar sands at 107g, shale oil at 131.3g, coal transformed into liquid fuel at 172g, natural gas converted into liquid fuel at 97g and plastic waste at 86g. The 2009 directive on fuel quality set out a binding objective of 6% by 2020 for reducing CO2 from the production of fuels for transport.
Pushed forward by Hedegaard, this proposal is encountering opposition from the commissioner for trade, Karel De Gucht, and his colleagues Antonio Tajani (industry) and Günther Oettinger (energy). Member states will have between four and six weeks to study the proposal before it is submitted to the Parliament. The proposal is mainly aimed at oil imports derived from tar sands and shale, as well as European producers of this kind of oil. The two main oil producers, which obtain their fuel from tar sands in the world are Canada (the province of Alberta) and Venezuela but they export very little oil to the EU: the equivalent of 0.01% of imports but production in Canada is expected to triple by 2020.
Parliament backs Hedegaard. All the different political groups and MEPs immediately welcomed the proposal from Hedegaard and described it as a major step forward in the fight against climate change. They also welcomed her courage to stand up to pressure from the oil lobby, such as in Canada. Kriton Arsenis (S&D, Greece) asserted: “It is a first step in a long way we have to go to reveal the hidden costs of energy resources and resume consistency with our goal to move Europe to a competitive low carbon economy”. Sirpa Pietikäinen (EPP, Finland) stated: “The Commission proposal is very good and welcomed. At this very moment, when we need to develop a more environmentally friendly and resource efficient European and global economy, there is no sense in going back to using energy resources which are less efficient and more polluting.” Bairbre de Brún (GUE/NGL, United Kingdom) said: “This proposal is definitely a move in the right direction and a firm signal that the environmental damage and the amount of greenhouse gases emitted from extraction of our sands is simply unacceptable”. Corinne Lepage (ALDE, France) stated: “We congratulate the Commission for not bowing to the pressure of the oil industry. The higher environmental impacts of unconventional feed stocks such as tar sands and oil shale have to be properly taken into account in European legislation”. Satu Hassi (Greens/EFA, Finland) explained that the ball is now in the court of the member states. (EH/transl.fl)