Truck and Track Winter 21/22 www.truckandtrack.com 50 FUEL MANAGEMENT Fleet operators should be aware that the government has legislated that, from 1st April 2022, gasoil, otherwise known as red or rebated diesel, will no longer be permissible for many types of vehicles and plant machinery in the UK. As a guideline, the following will still be permitted to use red diesel: ■ Farmers will be allowed to use it for agricultural equipment. ■ Marinas and harbours will be allowed to use it for fuelling boats (except private pleasure craft in Northern Ireland). ■ Railways will be allowed to use it in locomotives. ■ Local authorities will be allowed to use it in agricultural vehicles used for grass/verge/hedge cutting, gritting, and snow clearance. It is the responsibility of all fleet operators who currently use red diesel to determine whether the new legislation applies to them or otherwise. As a leading supplier and service provider to the fleet industry, quite a significant number of companies have approached Merridale for guidance. From our perspective, where changes do apply, fleet operators appear to be faced with three main choices. These are: ■ To close or “mothball” the existing red diesel storage facility and utilise any existing white diesel facility. ■ To modify the existing red diesel storage facility to store white diesel and use it as a stand-alone facility. ■ To modify the existing red diesel storage facility and to interconnect the storage tank formally used for red diesel with the existing white diesel storage tank. Each of these will cost fleet operators to some degree and it is anticipated that this will place significant demand upon the pump & tank industry. It is important to note that it has been indicated that government is not prepared to create amnesty periods and that all conversions MUST be completed by 1st April 2022. To close or “mothball” the existing red diesel storage facility and utilise any existing white diesel facility It is almost certain that the Environmental Agency will not be prepared to let you simply cease usage and leave in situ and since diesel was reclassified as flammable, any quantity of unused diesel that you store will probably be of interest to DSEAR and your insurance companies. Unless you have a significant quantity of red diesel still stored, it would probably be of no interest to your fuel supplier for them to purchase this from you due to the reprocessing that this would require. We would, however, still suggest you approach them to see if they do provide this option. The likely outcome is that you will need to employ specialists to clean the tank, dispose of all remaining product, and uproot the storage tank for authorised disposal. Where such tanks are in very good order, there may be a market to sell these to refurbishers. To modify the existing red diesel storage facility to storewhite diesel and use it as a stand-alone facility So far, this is the option that most companies have indicated that they are considering. However, fleet operators would be Changes in law to limit gasoil use drawing closer
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