Africa 'turns from leaded petrol'

Cairo is healthier since Egypt went lead-free

By Alex Kirby BBC News Online environment correspondent

In a move which promises significant gains for public health, most of Africa is expected to change soon to unleaded petrol.

The United Nations Environment Programme (Unep) says the end of leaded fuel in Africa is "in sight".

By 2008, it thinks, most of the continent will have made the move, or be close to doing so.

It is working with countries across Africa to hasten the change.

Unep says about 90% of global petrol supplies are now unleaded, with most of the remaining 10% burnt in developing countries.

It says Egypt, Libya, Sudan and Mauritius have already phased out leaded fuel.

Another 22 countries either have action plans to abandon it by 2005-6, or are drawing them up, it says.

Setting an example

They include South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Togo, Kenya, Uganda and Eritrea.

This year, Unep says, Morocco, Reunion, Tunisia and Western Sahara are expected to join them.

Lead damages young brains

Unep, which is based in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, is stopping the sale of leaded fuel at the filling station at its HQ there.

Dr Klaus Toepfer, Unep's executive director, said: "It has been known for many years that lead in petrol is a serious health risk, particularly to children.

"Studies have demonstrated that children living near roads and in urban areas where leaded petrol is used can suffer brain damage, with symptoms including lower intelligence scores."

Dr Toepfer said that was why leaded petrol had been phased out across most of the world.

Summit thanks

He said: "Much of Africa, mainly for technological reasons, a lack of awareness of the health risks, and misconceptions about the impact of unleaded fuels on engines, has lagged behind.

Africa is switching fast to unleaded fuel

"However, partly because of work already under way and the new impetus from the global Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles, the situation is rapidly changing, and a lead-free Africa is in sight.

"This is one of the first concrete outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) held six months ago in South Africa.

"The voluntary initiative, a so-called Type II project, was born there with funding and support from governments, the private sector including the oil and automobile industries, civil society and international organizations like Unep."

No worries

Rob de Jong, Unep's urban environment programme officer, said: "Many people who drive older cars are convinced they will suffer engine damage if they fill up with unleaded fuel.

"But this really is not the case. Only under the extreme conditions of a laboratory test can effects be seen.

"In the real world, under normal motoring conditions prevailing in Africa, unleaded petrol works as well if not better in most if not all vehicles."

The WSSD called for a rapid phasing-out of leaded petrol across the world. Many countries are intent on achieving the goal by 2005.