A work plan to accelerate the upgrade of fuel quality in China was released recently by seven government departments, including the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Ministry of Commerce.

The plan states that China will soon start formulating a new national standard — National VI — for fuel and diesel oil.

The departments said they would issue the new standard at the end of 2016, and implement it in 2019.

A total of 11 provinces in East China will supply fuel and diesel oil that meets the National V standard, which requires sulfur content in fuel to be no greater than 10 parts per million, one-fifth of the National IV's 50 ppm, from Jan 1, 2016.