Swiss NGO Public Eye has today published a report 'Dirty Diesel' revealing how Swiss commodity trading companies are taking advantage of weak regulatory standards to market fuel to Africa that has levels of sulphur (a major contributor to air pollution) far exceeding those permitted in Europe.

The fuel, diesel and gasoline, is sometimes produced by the trading companies themselves and has long been banned in Europe due to its toxic levels. Public Eye's report highlighted the problem, particularly in West Africa, explaining "In West Africa especially, Vitol, Trafigura and Addax & Oryx ruthlessly exploit weak regulatory standards and make the local urban populations pay with their health."

It went on saying:

"On land or at sea, they mix up a petrochemical cocktail from refinery products and other components known in the industry as "African Quality". These toxic fuels are mainly mixed in the ARA-Zone (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp) where Swiss trading firms have their own refineries and storage facilities."

Both Vitol and Trafigura have said that they comply with legal requirements in the countries concerned, with the largest amounts being shipped to Ghana, Nigeria and Senegal.

While being legal, such trading practices are 'illegitimate' according to Public Eye. They also cited a recent UN study on air pollution and reported that "Producing and selling such products is illegitimate and violates the African populations' right to health. According to a recent UN study, the populations in the continent's major urban centers suffer from the most rapidly increasing levels of air pollution in the world."

The discrepancy in permitted levels of sulphur is alarming in some African countries when compared to European norms. In Europe, the sulphur content for diesel is less than 10 parts per million (ppm), while some African countries permit levels of more than 2,000 ppm, with a few even exceeding 5,000 ppm.

In Nigeria, for example, 3,000 ppm of sulphur in diesel is allowed, with 1,000 ppm for petrol. Ironically, Nigeria and other West African countries export high grade crude oil with some of the world's lowest sulphur levels, as Public Eye pointed out saying "Many West African countries that export high grade crude oil to Europe receive toxic low quality fuel in return."

Despite the current situation, the Public Eye report did see a way forward suggesting that "...the affected countries need to set and enforce stricter standards. But the Swiss commodity companies, too, must respect human rights wherever they do business — and comply with the UN-Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights adopted in 2011."