BP launches R40m high-tech Lab

South African Energy Minister Dipuo Peters has urged BP management to use the R40-million state-of-the-art centre, which was launched on Monday in Johannesburg, as a springboard for development and innovation.

The centre is expected to boost the company's ability to provide differentiated fuels in the South African market.

The launch of the laboratory is part of the oil major's long-term investment strategy in the country, which it sees as a key growth market.

Over the past year, BP has spent more than R500-million on growing its forecourt infrastructure, expanding its fuels delivery capability and optimising its refining in the country.

Peters said at the launch that the government was continuing with its search for cleaner fuels.

"The centre will be used by the company as a vehicle to conform to what is coming into being as the new fuels specification and standards. On the cleaner fuels regulatory framework, the department will, within the next few weeks, publish a position paper, which will set, among others, a road map in this country."

The document would include the draft fuels specifications and would complement the work done by the National Treasury on carbon taxes for passenger vehicles, Peter said.

"Government is committed to reducing harmful emissions including carbon emissions. The department has recently issued a tender for the development of a 20-year liquid fuels infrastructure road map, which will give an indication on future investments," she stated.

Peters said that the government would ensure that there was security of supply and interventions where the market might fail.

She urged the sector to use the lessons learnt during the hosting of the 2010 FIFA World Cup as a driving force for future planning.

BP Southern Africa CEO Sipho Maseko said that the fuels centre would ensure that the fuels developed for the local market remained "unparalleled in quality and performance".

"We want South Africa consumers to have access to BP's best available fuel technology."

He noted that it would also help deliver capable fuel scientists and technologists to work in this highly specialised field and provide unique opportunities for industry to work closer with academic institutions and motoring bodies, such as the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa.

Source: EngineeringNews - Monday, 25 October 2010