Green Economy Journal Issue 41

AIR
Air quality in South Africa has deteriorated with an increase in
emission of various toxic and hazardous pollutants into the
atmosphere emitted through various sources 1 . Some of the
sources include power generation, domestic, fuel burning, industrial
emission, biomass burning and vehicle emissions. These have led to
the release of air pollutants such as carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide,
particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, nitrogen oxides, ozone, benzene
and VOCs.
Vehicle exhaust emissions have contributed to the air quality
deteriorating, especially in urban areas, as a result of the increase in the
number of privately-owned vehicles, subsequently leading to an increase
in fuel consumption. These emissions contribute to the presence of
carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, propane and other hydrocarbons in
petroleum products (petrol and diesel). The National Metrology Institute
of South Africa (NMISA) supports the local automotive industry through
the provision of accurate automotive vehicle exhaust primary reference
gas mixtures.
The NMISA Gas Analysis Laboratory has established measurement
capabilities to provide these gases in 2009, and further demonstrated
international equivalence through participation in the international,
preparative comparison for automotive emission gas standards (EUROMET
1113) containing propane, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide as
components in petroleum products.
NMISA enables compliance to legislation
and reliable reporting of emission
measurements through the provision
primary reference gas mixtures.
To ensure compliance with the CO 2 tax,
there is a need for accurate standards
to monitor CO 2 emissions and ensure
those correct penalties are applied.
In 2019, NMISA participated in a value assignment international
comparison (CCQM K3.2019) containing propane, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide and oxygen to improve existing vehicle exhaust. The results
of the comparison are expected in 2021. NMISA continues to provide
accurate, low uncertainty standards required for emission monitoring
to enable compliance with legislation and reliable reporting of emission
measurement results.
Automotive exhaust emissions contribute significantly to the global
emissions of carbon dioxide. In September 2010, South Africa implemented
a CO 2 emissions tax on all new vehicles as an initiative to improve air quality
and reduce vehicle emissions by imposing the use of environmentallyfriendly
vehicles. This will also contribute to the reduction of CO 2 emissions
as the increase in atmospheric CO 2 emissions is linked to the current global
warming crisis. Vehicles emitting over 120 g/km are subjected to a tax
penalty of R75 per g/km + VAT. To ensure compliance with the CO 2 tax, there
is a need for accurate standards to monitor CO 2 emissions and ensure those
correct penalties are applied.
NMISA enables compliance to legislation and reliable reporting of
emission measurements through the provision of primary reference
gas mixtures. The Institute is mandated by Measurement Units and
Measurement Standards Act, 2006 (Act No. 18 of 2006) provides for the
accuracy and international recognition of local measurement results.
NMISA is part of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition’s
family of the Technical Infrastructure Institutes, which also include the
South African Bureau of Standards, National Regulator for Compulsory
Specification and the South African National Accreditation System, that
together provides for confidence in local goods and products and allows
for successful prosecution in cases of non-compliance. The accuracy of
measurement results can be demonstrated by ensuring that these are
traceable to the National Measurement Standards (Government Gazette
No. 1131,19 October 2018) realised and maintained by NMISA.
Facebook: NMISouthAfrica
Twitter: @NMISouthAfrica
Instagram: @nmisouthafrica
LinkedIn: National Metrology Institute of South Africa (NMISA)
YouTube: National Metrology Institute of South Africa NMISA
www.nmisa.org
Reference
1. Department of Environmental Affairs. 2012. 2nd South Africa Environment Outlook. A report on the state of the environment. Executive Summary. Department
of Environmental Affairs, Pretoria. 60 pp
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