[ad_1]
Posted on July 13, 2018
It is an oil that could never be sold in Europe but that some traders and oil companies do not hesitate to export to West Africa, taking advantage of the low environmental standards on the spot. This is revealed in a report by the Dutch environment police. Companies could be attacked for human rights violations
Lower quality oil, mixed with dangerous chemicals, sent to West Africa by European traders and oil companies. This is the practice brought to light by a very serious report by the Dutch Inspectorate for the Human Environment and Transport. Published Monday, July 9 and handed to Parliament, it accuses traders to abuse the low environmental standards in place, to make substantial profits to the detriment of the health of millions of Africans.
The control covered 44 tankers en route to West Africa. It appears that the sulfur content in so-called "African quality" diesel reaches up to 300 times the limit set in Europe. Sulfur is a major cause of air pollution to fine particles. In gasoline, carcinogenic ingredients such as benzene or isoprene have also been detected in addition to sulfur, as well as manganese, up to 30 times the maximum limit prevailing on the Old Continent.
Environmental Scandal and Public Health
"The delivery of toxic fuels to West Africa is nothing less than an environmental and public health scandal " laments Erik Solheim, head of the United Nations Program for the environment (UNEP) The idea that some parts of the world do not deserve the same health protection as others is simply shocking. "
The Dutch survey reports a dozen giants of oil brokerage such as the Swiss Vitol and Gunvor, the Anglo-Swiss Glencore or Trafigura, and their subsidiaries responsible for downstream activities (refining, distribution, trade) . But major oil companies are also among the main players in the chain, such as Total, Shell, BP and ExxonMobil.
"In publishing this comprehensive survey, the Netherlands assumes responsibility as a center for the production and export of harmful fuels, and at the same time the National Contact Point reviews, on ministerial instructions, whether firms involved violate OECD guidelines on respect for human rights and the environment " Public Eye responds.
Violation of Human Rights
In September 2016, this NGO warned with a three-year investigation into the role of Swiss traders in the production and supply of toxic fuels in the West African market. " If the trade in toxic fuels is legal, this practice is however illegitimate and constitutes a violation of human rights.Swiss traders make profits to the detriment of millions of people in Africa, whose right to health is violated" explained the NGO.
Air pollution is already a major problem in African cities. They are among the most polluted in the world, ahead of Asia. While no action is being taken to reduce the high sulfur content of fuels, road-related air pollution will, in the year 2030, lead to the untimely death of 31,000 people in Africa, three times more than in Europe, the United States and Japan together. And the number of people suffering from cardiovascular diseases and cancers could explode.
But things are starting to move. Most West African states, spurred by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), have pledged to drastically reduce the sulfur content permitted in diesel and are gradually applying international standards.
Concepcion Alvarez @concep1
[ad_2]
Source link
