A new diesel scandal is brewing. When authorities began investigating the case, a whistleblower was asked to 'burn all evidence'.
A major scandal surrounding HVO diesel is brewing. The popular eco-fuel from China, Indonesia and Malaysia is now under intense scrutiny.
British authorities have launched an investigation following alarming information from whistleblowers in the fuel industry, pointing to possible fraud with the raw material for HVO.
This is reported by the BBC .
HVO stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil. It is marketed as a green alternative to regular diesel. The fuel has similar chemical properties to fossil diesel.
According to the regulations, production must be based exclusively on waste products. This can be used frying oil, slaughterhouse waste or residues from palm oil production. This gives the fuel a very low CO2 footprint.
However, it is suspected that fresh palm oil is being used instead. It is also called virgin palm oil. If this is the case, it is a serious environmental crime.
Palm oil production is a global environmental problem. It contributes massively to the clearing of rainforests. This threatens, among other things, the habitats of orangutans.
Possible falsification and destruction of evidence
A whistleblower tells the BBC about the situation. "I believe what we actually bought was large quantities of virgin palm oil that was labelled as palm oil sludge," the source says.
The same whistleblower tells of attempts to cover up the fraud. The company's management allegedly gave orders to burn the evidence.
– I called one of the people responsible, who said that the evidence should be burned, says the whistleblower.
However, the person chose to go to the authorities with the information.
Experts also point to a logical problem. The amount of HVO on the market seems unrealistically high. The world's total production of suitable waste materials from which the fuel is made is simply not enough.
The waste constitutes only a fraction of what would be used for global HVO production, raising questions about the fuel's true origin.
Problems with certification and control
The certification of HVO fuel has also come under criticism. Inspections in China in particular are a cause for concern.
German green fuels expert Dr. Christian Bickert says: "ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) simply must not send anyone to China to carry out inspections."
– You simply have to trust that your certification company is doing its job properly, adds Dr. Bickert.
This creates uncertainty about the effectiveness of the control.
The British authorities are now taking the matter seriously. Their investigation is to clarify the extent of the possible fraud. The results are eagerly awaited.
The case is also relevant for Sweden. The country is significantly increasing the use of HVO from July. This is done to meet the EU's emission targets through a stricter reduction obligation.
If the HVO fuel turns out to be based on fraud, it could have major consequences. It would undermine the green transition in the transport sector.
While the debate about HVO and alternative fuels rages, you can read more about the automotive industry's latest trends and technologies at Boosted.dk. Among the stories is Ferrari, which believes that an inverted V6 engine can burn hydrogen.
