Cleaner diesel issue to go before cabinet

By ANNE BESTON

The battle to get cleaner diesel into Auckland's vehicle fleet could soon be over as the Government steps in.

"It's fair to say there's been quite a bit of work going on," said Commerce and Associate Energy Minister Paul Swain.

The Auckland Regional Council chairman, Phil Warren, who has led the charge for the cleaner diesel, said he understood the issue would be discussed at Monday's cabinet meeting.

"It's good news obviously. A few heads are being banged together and we hope by Monday or Tuesday we will have something positive to report to the public."

Mr Swain rejected claims by oil giant Mobil that sulphur-reduced diesel in Auckland would mean higher sulphur levels in diesel for the rest of the country.

"Clearly it wouldn't be acceptable if the level of sulphur went up in the rest of the country but there are suggestions the average in NZ wouldn't be affected," he said.

The row erupted in May when, with spare sulphur refining capacity at Marsden Pt, Mr Warren publicly criticised Mobil for not backing a plan to get the sulphur content in Auckland's diesel reduced from about 2200 parts per million to about 1000ppm.

The other three oil companies - Shell, BP and Caltex - had given agreement.