Tunisian MPs demand investigation into European ‘dirty diesel’

The Tunisian Al-Irada Movement demanded that the Tunisian government launch an investigation into what they described as contaminated and toxic diesel imported from European companies.

Al-Irada, a party that has four MPs in Tunis’ 217 seat legislature, made their demands after reports by a Swiss NGO indicated last month that European oil companies were involved in the production and exportation of contaminated diesel to a number of African countries.

The report by Public Eye, entitled “Dirty Diesel”, also revealed how this contaminated diesel contained a high percentage of toxic substances, raising fears over environmental and public health in Tunisia, Egypt, Somalia and the Congo.

At a press conference held yesterday in Tunis, Al-Irada MP Emad Al-Daemy confirmed that Tunisia imports diesel fuel that contains high toxic substances.

Al-Daemy told Anadolu Agency that world’s major oil companies produces toxic fuel which contains large volumes of sulphur, and they call it “African Quality.”

Public Eye asserted that this type of diesel is banned in Europe as a result of its major health and environmental impact, leading to calls for the same concerns over public health to be applied to non-European countries.