Direzione Generale per la Salvaguardia Ambientale
A seguito di una specifica richiesta della Regione Piemonte in merito alla classificazioni dell'olio combustibile finalizzata all'applicazione della direttiva Seveso (D.Lgs. 334/99 e s.m.i.) questa Direzione aveva espresso una prima interpretazione generica che a seguito dalla corrispondenza intercorsa tra i diversi soggetti coinvolti si ritiene utile formulare in maniera puntuale; pertanto si precisa nel merito quanto segue.
Ai fini della verifica dell'assoggettabilità degli "olii combustibili" (fuel oils) alla direttiva Seveso debbono essere considerati gli elementi interpretativi espressi dalla Commissione Europea in collaborazione con il Committee of Competent Authorities for the implementation of Directive 96/82/EC (CCA), nell'ambito della tematica "Questions & Answers" (Q&A), ed in particolare i riferimenti A-85 ed A-89, ad ogni buon conto allegati alla presente.
Dalla disamina di tali considerazioni si evince come i fuel oils con caratteristiche ricomprese in quelle associate al gas oils (inclusi diesel fuels, home heating oils e gas oil blending streams) aventi caratteristiche come quelle esemplificativamente evidenziate nelle succitate note debbono essere considerati quali "prodotti petroliferi" di cui all'allegato 1 parte 1 del D.Lgs. 334/99 e s.m.i.; mentre i fuel oils, quali ad esempio i cosiddetti Heavy fuel oils, che non presentano le caratteristiche di cui sopra debbono essere considerati non assoggettati alla disciplina dei decreti legislativi 334/99 e 238/05.
Agli Enti e dagli Organi Tecnici che leggono per conoscenza si chiede di dare la più ampia diffusione ai contenuti della presente nota, con particolare riferimento ai competenti Uffici delle regioni ed agli argani tecnici regionali.
IL DIRETTORE GENERALE (Ing. Bruno Agricola)
-How is the group of named substances "petroleum products" defined?
- Is shale oil a petroleum products?
The group of named substances "petroleum pruducts" at first is defined by three subgroups;
(a) gasolines and naphthas,
(b) kerosenes (including jet fuels),
(C) gas oils (including diesel fuels, home heating oilsand gas oil heating streams)
"Petroleum" in its meaning in English language is a synonym for "crude oil" which indicates that only products originating from crude oil are concerned. Shale oil therefore is no petroleum product. It has to be classified by its flash point or properties dangerous for the environment either in categories 6, 7 or 9.
Petroleum products be defined by their production conditions, for example
- gasoline and naphta: boiling range of 20°C - 250°C and C-range of C4-C12
- kerosene: boiling range of 70°C- 290°C and C-range of C7-C17
- gas oils: boiling range of 150°C- 500°C and a C-range of C9-C25
More information may be taken from the CONCAWE reports 92/103 (gasoline), 94/106 (kerosene) and 95/107 (gas oils).
If the definition by distillation ranges is not known or not feasible to identify, the UN/ADR codes can serve as information source, as they define as follows:
- 1202 gas oils and diesel
- 1203 gasoline
- 1223 kerosene
(1288 is the UN/ADR code for shale oil).
How should fuel oilsare considered?Should there be a distinction between high sulphur (R51/R53) fuel oil?
Fuel oils have to be considered by the named substance group of petroleum products (gas oils including diesel fuels, home heating oils and gas oils blending streams); gas oil is a sample definition for all hydrocarbons as derived from boiling fractions of petroleum processing in a range of about 170°C to 400°C (see also A-85). The sulphur content was a relevant issue in Directive 96/82/EC, but will no longer be relevant in the amended directive as fuel oils belongs to the named group of petroleum products in 2003/105/EC.
"Bunker oil" is a term for fuel oil used for ships, where the decisive properties must be clarified. Heavy fuel oils, such as those that require preheating, are not covered by the definition of "gas oils".