Venezuela cracks down on emissions

Venezuela will require that all car importers and assemblers install dual tanks for gasoline and natural gas in at least 30 per cent of their models by next April as the government seeks to cut emissions. Companies must present their 2009 models to the Ministry of Light Industry and Trade to approve their use in the plan by Sept. 15, according to a resolution published today in the government's Official Gazette. An earlier resolution making the dual tanks mandatory as of July 1 was thrown outTuesday. Venezuela has lowered its car import quotas this year in order to boost national production of vehicles after a record 491,899 units were sold in 2007, 68 per cent of which were imported. Car sales fell 48 per cent in June from a year earlier as supply lags behind demand, which remains strong as Venezuelans use cars as a shield against surging inflation.