Could tougher specifications affect diesel supply?

The evaluation of the impact of various measures on the EU refining industry is generally based on the assumption that refiners will invest in order to meet both future demand and product specifications. Reality may be less clear-cut.

While some refiners will indeed invest, others may resort to solutions such as changes to the crude diet, import/export of components or changes to the production pattern. In any business, the decision to invest has to be based on the judgement that a return can be made on the proposed investment and, if there are viable alternatives to investment, these decisions could be avoided or deferred.