Save More Than Fuel

Publication date: 27 May 2008

 European petroleum industry partners with the European Commission in pan-European consumer campaign

The European Petroleum Industry Association (EUROPIA) and the European Commission, represented by Energy Commissioner Piebalgs, are launching today a campaign across 29 countries to encourage consumers to ‘Save More Than Fuel’ by making small adjustments to their driving behaviour.

Forty oil companies in Europe have joined forces to run a consumer-awareness campaign on the efficient use of transport fuels. The campaign proposes ten tips on how to drive more efficiently and will help motorists to save fuel and reduce their carbon footprint.

Over 45,000 petrol stations across 29 European countries will take part in the ‘Save More Than Fuel’ campaign. Millions of leaflets on fuel efficiency and responsible driving behaviour will be available to consumers at filling stations, with additional information on the dedicated website at www.savemorethanfuel.eu.

Commenting on the initiative, EUROPIA President Panos E. Cavoulacos and Secretary General Isabelle Muller said: “We are hugely excited about this campaign. It demonstrates our industry’s commitment to meet climate and energy challenges while also opening a dialogue on energy efficiency with our customers. By sharing our knowledge, expertise and infrastructure, we can help the Commission to communicate on the need for behavioural change and collectively begin to make a difference.”

The campaign is being launched today in Brussels with the support and presence of European Energy Commissioner Andris Piebalgs, who commented: “The EU has identified energy

efficiency as a key policy tool to meet our 2020 climate and energy goals. Initiatives such as EUROPIA’s demonstrate the important role that the oil industry can play in raising awareness

among European drivers as to the contribution that individual citizens can make. The oil industry is also playing its part by supplying high quality and efficient fuels and improving its own energy efficiency performance”.

With launches taking place simultaneously throughout Europe, the campaign is expected to reach many millions of drivers. Road transport is a key element of Europe’s competitiveness; it

is also where a considerable share of our fuel consumption lies. With increasing transport demand, energy efficiency and responsible driver behaviour can make an important contribution

to sustainable transport. Through the network of petrol stations across Europe, the fuel efficiency message will reach millions of road users and, hopefully, mark an important step in the process of behavioural change.

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Note to editors:

The European Petroleum Industry Association EUROPIA represents the downstream interests of the oil and gas Industry in Europe, covering around 80% of EU petroleum refining capacity and some 75% of EU retail fuel sales.

Source: The European Petroleum Industry Association (EUROPIA)