France set to approve raising biodiesel content in “gazole” to 8%, French oil union complains

French authorities are getting set to authorize the incorporation of 8% biodiesel in the diesel used for vehicle transport in the country, known locally as ‘gazole’, which will be higher than the 7% currently approved in accordance with European norms, according to information published December 24 by the French Union of Oil Industries, or UFIP according to its French acronym.

If such a regulation is passed authorizing the addition of 8% biofuel to diesel, fuel distributors would have to provide a product which “will not conform to the application conditions for guaranties of European manufacturers” of automobiles and heavy weight vehicles, the Union Francaise des Industries Petrolieres said.

“The UFIP is demanding that France maintain the level of incorporation of biodiesel in ‘gazole’ at 7% so as to assure the conditions of guaranty set by automobile manufacturers,” the organization added.

French authorities have in late 2014 made statements which indicate they want France to stop its reliance on diesel which is by far the most consumed fuel in the country's roads.

The Paris major Anne Hidalgo said on December 7 that Paris wants a ban on diesel by 2020 with the purpose of fighting pollution. Just a week earlier, the French prime minister Manuel Valls described the country’s long dependence on diesel to fuel most of the vehicles there as a “mistake,” also because of pollution concerns.

A set of measures have been approved already and additional regulations are likely to be annouced shortly to eventually reduce diesel consumption but this is the first report of a potential increase in biofuel content in the mix used to make ‘gazole’.

The 7% biodiesel content diesel mix sold in France for vehicle use is commonly referred to as “gazole routiere”.