Posted 15th June 2001

ARC, Better Later Than Never

You may have caught PTV's three part feature on Auckland Transport. We made it well known that New Zealand diesel has the highest sulphur content (producing sulphuric acid form SO2 gas) in the world. Now the ARC has progressed their smokey campaign. Nothing to do with pl.net of course! Caltex, BP and Shell have pledged their support to the ARC initiative to clean up Aucklands Diesel, but Mobil has refused. All four oil companies must agree for cleaner diesel to happen here in NZ. Currently New Zealand's regulations on sulphur content in diesel are worse than the Philippines. We permit 3000 parts per million of sulphur particulate in the diesel that is brought into the country by the four big oil companies and refined at the NZ Refinery.

The US and Australia permit 500ppm of sulphur in diesel, and the EU permits 350ppm. The ARC is pushing for an immediate reduction to 1000ppm for Auckland. If this was achieved it would remove 1000kg per day of fine particles from the air us Aucklanders breathe. It is the first step to bringing New Zealand up to international standards. The support of all four major oil companies is required to enable the New Zealand Refinery Company to refine a 1000 ppm diesel almost immediately and at a minimal cost of less than one cent per litre. This may also reduce the longterm wear on vehicle engines and therefore offset the costs of the price increase.

The ARC has asked all four oil companies to support the initiative, and Caltex, BP and Shell have agreed to do so. Mobil has refused. The ARC's chief executive Jo Brosnahan met with Mobil's top executives on Wednesday June 13, but Mobil has refused to budge on its position. Mobil does have a diesel product called Synergy which it is claiming is environmentally preferable. Synergy is an additive. There is no reason why Mobil cannot agree to remove the sulphur from diesel first, and then put in the additive. ARC air quality scientists also say that Synergy has been introduced to New Zealand without going through a proper review process to determine its effect on human health and the environment. ARC scientists would like that review to take place. What can you do to support this?

1. Boycott Mobil until Mobil agrees to reduce the sulphur content in diesel, and tell others to do so as well.

2. Go to the ARC's 0800 Smokey website and fill in the coupon. This will go to the ARC and form part of a petition to Government asking for cleaner fuel specifications. The website is: www.smokey.org.nz/icare

3. If you want your business to publicly support the ARC's campaign, tell the ARC - or put out a media release yourself in support. Email

4. (Particularly if you're a regular Mobil customer) tell Mobil that you are not going to buy their fuel until they agree to reduce the sulphur level in diesel to 1000ppm, as agreed by the other oil companies..