Ethyl Canada refutes MMT legislative ban

26 June 1995 00:00  [Source: ICB]

ETHYL CANADA says the decision by the federal government to introduce legislation banning its controversial fuel additive, methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT), in Canada will increase air pollution.

The draft legislation, titled The manganese-based fuel additives act, will prohibit inter-provincial trade and import of MMT and fuel containing MMT. The law would come into effect 60 days after passing the legislation and Royal assent.

Pressure for the legislation has come from Canada's automotive industry, which believes that MMT adversely affects emission control systems. Some manufactures have threatened to disconnect on-board diagnostic systems or reduce vehicle warranty coverage.

However, Ethyl claims that MMT does not harm emission control systems and reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 20% and carbon monoxide emissions by 5-6%. Ethyl is supported by the Canadian oil refining sector which claims that banning MMT would necessitate the spending of about Can$100m ($72m) on plant modifications to achieve the equivalent octane levels in fuel free of MMT.

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