The Government of Dubai has set its sights on curbing trade in illegal diesel.
Several companies and agents operating illegally have already been fined as part of an ongoing inspection campaign organised by a committee of numerous government entities.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Department of Economic Development, Dubai Municipality, and Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) have joined forces to identify and punish violators.
“We thank all the government entities and stakeholders for their support in activating the UAE Federal Cabinet decision number 37 of 2013, which mandates the use of low-sulphur, eco-friendly diesel across the UAE, and for their efforts to reduce illegal trade,” commented ENOC CEO, Saeed Khoory.
“ENOC is committed to working with the concerned authorities to curb illegal trading of diesel and taking prompt action against such vendors as their activities not only cause considerable economic losses, but also leave a lasting, detrimental impact on the environment.
“Using illegal and non-compliant diesel also leads to safety hazards and affects the nation’s reputation,” he added.
The fines issued so far have been imposed in reaction to various irregularities, including non-conformance to the specifications and standards set by ESMA, and associated standards connected to safety, environmental preservation, and storage. Other violations have included trading without the correct permits.
Recent government reports suggest that there has been a rise in illegal diesel trade, including diesel theft. Dubai Police has taken measures to address this issue, studying causes, identifying gaps, and suggesting appropriate actions to hamper criminal activity.
Nader Al Fardan, senior manager of ENOC Industrial Products Marketing, said: “The response so far for this joint campaign to crack illegal disel trade has been beyond our expectations. ENOC has been leading from the front when it comes to establishing benchmarks, and with this successful initiative, we have further regulated the market for oil derivatives and curbed illegal activities that negatively affect the economy, environment, and public health.”
ENOC was the first organisation in the UAE to introduce ultra-low-sulphur diesel (ULSD) across its retail and commercial networks. The company is still absorbing the additional cost involved in distributing the Euro 5-compliant fuel.
The governmental stakeholders have stated that the campaign to curb the illegal trade in diesel will continue until “it is clearly visible” that the sector is adhering to the relevant regulations.
