Briefing

Tar sands and the Fuel Quality Directive – what is it all about?

September 26, 2013

What it IS about: The Fuel Quality Directive (FQD) sets a 6% reduction target in the carbon intensity of transport fuels to be met by 2020.

This is a technology-neutral target that leaves to the industry a range of options to meet it in the most cost-effective way. What it’s NOT about: The Commission proposal to implement the FQD assigns carbon intensity to all fossil fuel feedstocks, namely: tar sands, coal-to-liquid, oil shale, gas-to-liquid and conventional oil. It does NOT discriminate between sources on the basis of geographical locations; it’s all about the carbon intensity of each fuel source.

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