MOSCOW, December 21 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian government said it would raise the quality standard for gasoline and diesel fuel to make them internationally competitive and to save effort on modernizing oil refineries.
The Industry and Energy Ministry said blueprints for shifting to the more stringent Euro 4 standard from the current Euro 2 would be submitted to the Cabinet December 26.
The new fuel quality standard will reduce hazardous emissions from gasoline and diesel vehicles while providing protection for their engines and prolonging their service life.
For the time being, Euro 2 will apply along with Euro 4 because Russia has too many old vehicles to allow for instant upgrading, the ministry said.
