Robin Friedland

South Africa is poised for the final phasing out of leaded petrol, eliminating lead as an air pollutant and reducing engine wear. Catalytic converters, fitted in all new engines internationally, cannot operate on leaded petrol. To preserve its growing export potential, the local car industry fully backs the change. The cut-off for leaded petrol manufacture is January 1 2006.

Oil sheikhs gathering in their robes to plot the downfall of the Western motorist is a popular stereotype. And many international actors would like us to think oil is a desperately scarce resource, to which access must be maintained by kow-towing to producers. The truth is more complex.