Greens Urge Mobil To Come On Board Over Low Sulphur Diesel

Green Party Transport Spokesperson Sue Kedgley today urged Mobil to join the other main oil companies in providing diesel with lower sulphur levels to the Auckland market.

The Auckland Regional Council initiative would see sulphur levels in Auckland's diesel drop more than half - from a maximum of 3000 parts per million to 1000 parts per million. If agreed to by the four main oil companies the move would remove around 1000 kilograms of fine particles from Auckland's air per day.

"We need new Government regulations that set lower levels of diesel across all of New Zealand, which all companies are required to meet. In the meantime Mobil should agree with the ARC initiative right now," said Ms Kedgley.

"Currently Auckland has a major air quality problem, largely as a result of the volume of cars in the city each day," said Ms Kedgley. "All four oil companies need to agree on this ARC initiative for the refinery to make the change and we urge Mobil to join in the programme."

Ms Kedgley said although reducing sulphur levels in diesel would not solve Auckland's air pollution problems, it was a step in the right direction and should be supported.

"Mobil are out of touch with the wishes of consumers and, at the moment, are stalling this initiative," said Ms Kedgley.

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