Fuel scandal in West Africa – The toxic Diesel goes up in the air, according to a report still inferior fuels to be exported materials from Europe to Nigeria, although the practice is criticized for years. In the critique of the commodity trader Vitol, based in Switzerland.Jorgos Brouzos0 KommentareFür the bad air, among other dirty fuels, is responsible: A car is refueled in Nigeria. Photo: Reuters
The Smog is to Cut thick: In the last few years, the residents of the Nigerian city of Port Harcourt complained regularly about the air pollution. This illegal oil Refineries are held responsible, but also the high sulphur content of the fuel plays a role. This is not only locally in craft production under questionable conditions, but is often from abroad.
The Nigerian-British NGO Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN) has taken fuel samples, and found that minors were sold quality, highly toxic fuels from international commodity traders, including Vitol from Switzerland, to Nigeria. “These traders take advantage of Nigeria’s weak and poorly-enforced Fuel standards”, writes the NGO. The fuels have a high sulphur concentration.
the effects of sulfur fumes serious. To disease of the respiratory system, damage to plants and buildings include:. For years, there are in Switzerland, therefore, strict limits for the sulphur in the fuel.
Self-mixed Diesel hits the big-business
in 2016, a report by the non-governmental organization of the Public Eye caused a stir. He revealed that Swiss commodity traders petrol and Diesel with high sulfur content to sell to West African countries. Because these fuels were no longer allowed to be used in Europe. The Dutch environment Agency has investigated in 2018, whether the diesel cargoes from Rotterdam to West Africa, to meet the requirements. The authority found a very high sulphur values and shortcomings in the documentation of exports. The United Nations described the sale of the dirty Diesels then as a “scandal”.
Now, SDN has checked again whether the Situation has since improved. The NGO collected samples 91 Fuel. Some of the official stations, the other by unofficial manufacturers. The NGO wanted the quality of the artisanal refineries produced fuel in accordance with international Standards, manufactured to compare.
The Diesel’s official fuel exceeded European limit values on average of 204 Times.
According to the report of SDN, both unofficial as well as official diesel samples are of a poor quality. It was also The fuels showed a high viscosity. So you can reduce Combustion efficiency and increase maintenance costs. A high viscosity was regarded by the consumers, but often as an advantage, because the fuel burns slower and thus lasts longer.
The result is for the Diesel, the big dealer not flattering. The Diesel’s official fuel exceeded European limit values on average of 204 Times. The artisanal fuels were on average 152 times above the European limit values. They are located in Switzerland and the EU at 10 ppm (parts per million: parts per Million). Years ago, it was decided in Nigeria, a more stringent limit value of 50 ppm, but has not been implemented. SDN calls, therefore, for the mandatory introduction of maximum values and a strict control.
sample of Vitol company scores badly from
The report of SDN, a sample path is particularly bad: “The highest analyzed concentration of Sulphur amounted to 3020 ppm. She was found in a Diesel from a gas station of the energy company Oando in the city of Port Harcourt.” Oando is part of the Swiss-Dutch commodities trader Vitol.
A Vitol spokeswoman says, the company will clarify the process. Further, the group has not taken yet a position.
The Swiss NGO of the Public Eye, says: “After our discovery of the Dirty-Diesel-shops four years ago, the United Nations environment programme, many countries, including Nigeria, has convinced, from the introduction of stricter sulphur standards. And the Netherlands, where these fuels are produced, initiated an investigation.” Only Switzerland as the seat of state of these companies had remained passive. “The new scandal shows that it urgently needs clear laws for multi-national companies, as proposed by the group-responsibility initiative,” a spokesman of the Public Eye.
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