Trafigura, Vitol and BP exporting dirty diesel to Africa, says Swiss NGO
- Editor
- Sep 15, 2016
- 1 min read
Summary: A report by Swiss NGO Public Eye exposed how major oil traders like Trafigura, Vitol, and BP exported diesel with extremely high sulphur content—far exceeding European limits—to African nations with weaker regulations. These “African quality” fuels, often blended in European facilities, were found to have sulphur levels up to 150 times above European standards. The practice, while legal, contributes significantly to air pollution and respiratory illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis across Africa. The report reveals regulatory loopholes that allow multinational firms to exploit underdeveloped legal frameworks for profit. The UN and World Bank criticized the public health impacts, linking air pollution to thousands of deaths annually and major economic losses in affected countries. While the companies involved claim compliance with local laws, critics argue they are knowingly fuelling a public health crisis through “regulatory arbitrage” and profit-driven negligence.
Source: The Guardian
