Vivo Energy Kenya has become the first oil marketer in the East African nation to import low sulphur fuel diesel (LSFD) with 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur content
The company distributes and markets Shell-branded fuels and lubricants in Kenya. The development followed after a legal notice was sent by the East African Community (EAC) to amend sulphur content from 500 ppm to 50 ppm with effect from 1 January 2015.
Polycarp Igathe, managing director of Vivo Energy Kenya, said, “It is our responsibility as human beings to protect our environment, not only for the current but also for the future generations. As oil marketers, we need to be responsible as we go about our business reducing harm to people and the environment at all points of our interaction with them.
“Complying with the sulphur content reduction in diesel as per the legal notice, highlights the fact that we are being responsible to the environment and to the citizens in communities where we operate.”
Through an open tender system, the company won the delivery of the first cargo of automotive diesel. The tender quantity is 65,000 metric tonnes, expected to arrive in a few days.
Wanjiku Manyara, managing director of Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA) appreciated the decision by industry players to use low sulphur diesel. “The PIEA, which represents the East African oil industry, has been instrumental in promoting cleaner fuels. The environmental and health benefits of reducing sulphur in gas oil are well known and accepted by the oil industry hence the PIEA’s involvement in the development of standards and programmes that facilitate improved fuel quality.”
EAC countries had signed up to the 2008 EA Regional Framework Agreement on Air Pollution where governments committed to enact regulations to reduce sulphur in imported AGO from 5000 ppm to 500 ppm by 2010.
Starting this year, all member nations of EAC will market diesel with a maximum sulphur content of 50 ppm and 150 ppm for gasoline. In addition, benzene content has also been revised to a maximum of three percent as per the harmonised EAC standards.
Igathe also said that maintenance costs for motorists using diesel would be lowered as they needn’t change diesel particulate filters as often, once they make the switch to LSFD.
