Climate Change Leadership Forum report number: 5
Transport Fuels Technical Advisory Group (TF TAG) Progress report to 12 June 2008
Briefing for the Climate Change Leadership Forum
Prepared by the Emissions Trading Group
12 June 2008
Overview
- The TF TAG was established in January 2008; it is chaired by Andrew Campbell (Director, Fuel Technology). It last met on 10 June.
- Its main task is to provide advice to officials on the technical components of the Climate Change (Liquid Fossil Fuels) Regulations and the related commentary. So far four meetings have taken place. As a result of discussions in the TF TAG a number of changes have been made to the draft regulations.
- There is still disagreement over the point of data collection; views among group members are divided (point of sale vs. point of excise). An industry only meeting took place on 3 June (with the TF TAGs independent expert advisor Ian Twomey as the facilitator) to see whether the industry could come to a common position on the point of data collection. Oil companies were not able to arrive at a common position. As no common position was reached officials noted that it was likely that the point of data collection would remain as currently drafted, at the point of excise.
- It was noted however that voluntary reporting during 2009 could be an opportunity to gain experience about which point of data collection may be more appropriate, and this could be the basis for reviewing the regulations before mandatory reporting in 2010 and before the sector would enter the ETS in 2011.
- At the 10 June meeting, the content of the Climate Change (Liquid Fossil Fuels) Regulations 2008 were accepted subject to some further minor amendments. It was agreed that the TF TAG would formally endorse the regulations electronically within the next two weeks. Officials noted that this endorsement would precede the submission of the regulations to Cabinet. It is expected that the regulations will be ready for publication and promulgation in July.
- Due to the near completion of the Climate Change (Liquid Fossil Fuels) Regulations 2008, the future of the TF TAG was discussed.
- An unresolved issue is the process to establish unique emissions factors for new fuels and that the TF TAG may wish to be involved in developing an approach to managing unique emission factors. It was noted that one of the Stationary Energy and Industrial Processes (SEIP) TAG subgroups will be looking at methodologies for unique emission factors. It was agreed that a meeting would be arranged between that group and interested members of the TF-TAG.
- It was agreed that the TF TAG should not be disbanded as issues may arise in the future that would be of interest to members. No formal meeting would be scheduled at this stage. Officials will adjust the terms of reference for the group accordingly.
