Costa Rica imports cleaner fuels

exhaust fumes

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New laws come into effect in Costa Rica, regulating the amount of sulfur in the countrys' diesel and gasoline imports. 

Sulfur is known to be one of the main contributors of air contamination and respiratory issues. 

According to René Castro, Minister of Environment and Energy, the approved amount of sulfur in diesel has now been lowered from 50 parts per million to 15 parts per million (ppm). In addition, the sulfur content in gasoline is also lowered, from 200 ppm to 80 ppm. 

The implementation of these regulations means that Costa Rica is now on par with the standard regulatory practices of European countries, hopefully setting a precendent for the Central American region. 

The new laws also indicate the maximum levels of MMT, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbony, a gasoline additive that is known to cause several engine problems. 

Consequently, these measures are expected to improve the performance of vehicles, in addition to diminishing levels of pollution and contributing to the general health of the population.