Shell Questions ARC’s Diesel Sensibilities

Shell New Zealand says the Auckland Regional Council needs to present a more fair and balanced view in advertising the introduction of a lower sulphur diesel.

While Shell has offered its 100 per cent commitment to supporting the early introduction of a lower sulphur diesel, the Company says that the ARC needs also to spell out the likely additional cost to the motoring public (of almost one cent per litre) to make this change. More importantly, they should also address the main source of Auckland’s air quality woes - Auckland’s burgeoning traffic congestion problems.

Similarly, the motoring public needs to better appreciate how vehicle maintenance can improve overall air quality.

Shell is disappointed that the ARC is suggesting that the Company does not want to co-operate in bringing a lower sulphur diesel onto the Auckland market, and stresses that it will do all it can to make this a reality.

The Company, however, is aware that a Government report of fuel specifications standards is looming and this may provide valuable recommendations relating to diesel standards.

“We have made these points clear to the ARC but they seem committed to press ahead regardless. They have also turned a blind eye to the more important question of providing the whole country with cleaner burning fuels. These are complex issues which take time and cannot be addressed with one-off advertising campaigns that do not spell out all the facts.”

Shell says it will continue to work with all parties to ensure that fuels available in New Zealand meet or exceed the emerging standards, but says this must be done with the full co-operation of the New Zealand Refining Company and all of the oil companies.
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