Philippines Permits Limited Euro II Fuel Use Amid Price Surge

Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Department of Energy announced on Saturday a temporary measure allowing the limited use of lower-grade Euro II petroleum products to conserve domestic fuel supplies amid soaring prices triggered by the ongoing war in the Middle East.

The decision comes as global oil disruptions, including the obstruction of the Strait of Hormuz, have driven sharp increases in fuel costs across Southeast Asia. Diesel prices in the Philippines surpassed 100 pesos per liter for the first time this week, with officials warning of potential rises to 114 pesos. The country, which imports most of its oil from the Middle East, has limited refining capacity, making local markets highly sensitive to international fluctuations.

Under the new policy, Euro II fuels – which contain 500 parts per million of sulfur compared to 50 parts per million in the cleaner Euro IV standard adopted nationwide in 2016 – will be permitted only for vehicles from model year 2015 and earlier, traditional jeepneys, industrial operations such as power plants and generators, and the marine and shipping sectors. The Department of Energy emphasized that Euro IV standards remain in effect for all...