http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2177149.stm Customs expose fuel-laundering plant Red diesel is used in agricultural machinery Customs and Excise officers have uncovered a major fuel-laundering operation at an illegal plant in Essex. Officers raided the plant at Chadwell St Mary, near Tilbury, on Monday and seized thousands of litres of red diesel and laundered fuel. It is estimated the plant represented up to £100,000 a week in lost fuel duty and could produce up to 30,000 litres of fuel a day. Customs and Excise spokesman John Barber said the operation had been "large and sophisticated". 'Dangerous acids' "These laundering plants are highly dangerous," he said. "Not only is there environmental danger owing to the sloppy use of very dangerous acids to take the dye out of the diesel, there is also danger in using these fuels in road vehicles because the fuel can still contain acids and can cause considerable engine damage." Five oil tankers capable of holding 150,000 litres of fuel were seized. An acid waste product was also found. Sulphuric acid and caustic soda are used to launder the fuel. This creates an acid sludge as a waste product. Continued investigations Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene to remove the roof of the unit because of fears about a lack of ventilation at the building. Five other vehicles have been seized from nearby premises that were running on the laundered fuel as well as the tankers, forklift trucks, pumps and other equipment used at the plant. Mr Barber said no-one has been arrested but investigations are continuing. Red diesel is a rebated fuel used in agricultural machinery and not intended for road use. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> Will You Find True Love? Will You Meet the One? Free Love Reading by phone! http://us.click.yahoo.com/it_ffB/R_ZEAA/Ey.GAA/FGYolB/TM ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> Biofuel at Journey to Forever: http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuels list archives: http://archive.nnytech.net/ Please do NOT send Unsubscribe messages to the list address. To unsubscribe, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
