Kenya has enforced new standards of fuel that have seen it be among first countries in the continent to use cleaner and environment friendly petroleum products.
The East African nation, together with its partners in the East Africa Community, are using diesel that has low sulphur level, according to Petroleum Institute of East Africa (PIEA).
“New fuel standards are in place in East Africa, including lower sulphur content for ‘automotive gas oil’ commonly referred to as diesel. It is 50 parts per million (PPM) compared to 500ppm initially,” said PIEA in a statement on Sunday.
Since January, noted the institute, Kenya and other countries in the region have been importing this friendly diesel fuel.
The 50ppm new diesel has a lighter color compared to the 500ppm.
“This lighter color does not at all affect or compromise the quality of diesel and neither does it imply the presence of illuminating kerosene,” assured the institute.
Kenya has had problems with contamination of fuel, particularly diesel, with unscrupulous traders mixing it kerosene for higher profit.
Besides being environmentally friendly, the new diesel lowers vehicle maintenance cost for motorists.
“The new diesel that is now in the market is cleaner and substantially lowers the cost of motoring given that it reduces corrosion in car cylinders and exhausts leading to longer engine life and less frequent repairs,” said PIEA.
“It also significantly reduces harmful emission pollutants hence protecting human health, the environment and indeed increases the lifespan of vehicles,” added the institution.
Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda, according to PIEA, are the only countries in the world outside the European Union using the fuel.
“The East African region is the only one in the developing world, outside the European Union, that has shifted to cleaner fuels wholesomely using a uniform legislation.”
Members of the institute in Kenya include Vivo Energy, Shell, National Oil, Riva, Gulf Energy, Total, Oil Libya, Hash and Engen.
Diesel is among the most consumed fuels in Kenya, only coming second to kerosene that is used for cooking and lighting. The fuel is mainly used in commercial vehicles that include those engaged in commuter transport.
A litre of the commodity is currently being sold at 0.82 U.S. dollars a litre as per last review of the Energy Regulatory Commission.
Kenyans consume an average of 140,000 metric tonnes of diesel per month, according to Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. Consumption has been rising depending on the price of the fuel in the market. Enditem
Source: Xinhua
