The Final Countdown for Red Diesel

The government will soon no longer subsidise the tax on red diesel. For many years, red diesel has been used across many industries, namely construction. When heavy plant equipment is required, using red diesel saves businesses thousands of pounds each year. Saying goodbye to this subsidised fuel is going to be a bitter pill to swallow for companies across all sectors.

At the time of announcing these changes, the chancellor said “The Red Diesel scheme allows selected users to pay a duty of just over 11p per litre for diesel, compared to almost 58p per litre for everyone else. But the sectors using red diesel are some of the biggest contributors to our air quality problem – emitting nearly 10% of the most noxious gases polluting the air of cities like London. This is tax relief on nearly 14 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year… the same as the entire population of London and Greater Manchester taking a return flight to New York.”

In place of red diesel comes white diesel, HVO & Furnace Flame.

The bad news is that it’s more expensive and more than likely to be targeted by thieves. Industries nationwide are losing thousands of pounds every year due to stolen fuel. Unscrupulous criminals have upped their game since red diesel became a thing of the past. Red diesel was dyed to make it easier to detect when it was being used illegally. Now the dye has gone, white diesel is easier to sell on.

Let’s have a look at two of the ways West Fuel Systems Limited can help you save money and improve your fleet efficiency.

If you don’t already buy in bulk, now is the time to do so. This means increasing your storage capacity for white diesel.

West Fuel Systems offer above-ground tanks designed for the safe storage of all diesel. Our steel tanks come in a range of capacities. An above-ground bunded steel tank offers a high level of security and is often enough to stop thieves in their tracks.

If you’re looking for a much bigger tank, we offer a bespoke design service and can manufacture above ground fuel storage tanks with a capacity of up to 200,000 litres. All fuel tanks comply with relevant regulations and come with a comprehensive 20-year guarantee.

If you’re storing a lot of fuel, you need to know that it’s being used efficiently. A fuel management system can be installed to monitor the use of your valuable fuel, down to individual employee usage in real-time. Only drivers that you authorise can draw fuel and access can be controlled instantly.

Fuel management systems can be used on multiple sites and by multiple dispensers. They provide real-time reports about fuel volumes used, driver details, vehicle details and much more.

White diesel is here to stay. But, as they say, there’s no use crying over spilt milk. As we move on, the important thing is to ensure your valuable fuel resources are safe and your usage is strictly controlled.

If you need any further help or information, give us a call.