They have sulphur values 378 times higher than what is permitted in Europe. Not to mention the high levels of benzene and aromatic hydrocarbons that are banned within the old continent. Yet they are sold abroad, particularly in Africa. These are the so-called "dirty fuels", such as automotive diesel, which from December will no longer be purchased by 5 nations in West Africa.

Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Côte d'Ivoire have signed an agreement committing them to no longer purchase toxic, high-sulphur diesel, in order to reduce emissions from motor vehicles and at the same time improve air quality.

A halt to "dirty" fossil fuels

The news comes from Unep (the United Nations Environment Programme), after the organisation Public Eye published the report "Dirty Diesel". The investigation shows how many European suppliers – Swiss companies in particular – export the fuel, which is banned in Europe, to African countries. "West Africa is sending a strong message: it will no longer accept Europe's dirty fuels," said Erik Solheim, director of Unep. "Their decision to set stricter standards, cleaner and more advanced fuels and vehicle emission standards shows how they are putting the health of their populations first."

The report also highlights how the supplying companies not only sell the prohibited diesel and gasoil, but produce the fuels themselves, particularly in the area known as ARA (Amsterdam-Rotterdam-Antwerp). "For 20 years Nigeria has been unable to tackle the problem of transport pollution due to imported fuels," said Amina J. Mohamed, Minister of the Environment. "Today we are taking an enormous step forward – reducing the sulphur limit in fuels from 3,000 parts per million to 50 parts per million – this will translate into major benefits for air quality in our cities and will allow us to set standards for more modern vehicles."

Renewable energies are growing in Africa

The African continent, despite all the difficulties involved, is undergoing a slow energy transition, driven by renewables. Installed solar and wind capacity is growing, while investment in new plants is increasing enormously. One need only think of the Ouarzazate solar power plant in Morocco, or the largest wind farm in the whole of Africa, now operational in Kenya, or indeed South Africa. The position seems clear: dependence on this type of fuel, which still carries strong overtones of colonialism, is numbered.