'All fuel sellers must ensure that 7.5% of the liquid fuels directed to consumption are produced sustainably and reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the air. To comply with these requirements, a fuel seller has several options, such as using biogas in transportation, incorporating solar or wind energy, or offering consumers second-generation biodiesel or HVO as an alternative to diesel fuel made from fossil oil,' explained Olav Avarsalu, Deputy Director-General for supervision at the Environmental Board.
HVO, or paraffinic diesel fuel, is a liquid fuel made from renewable sources, either vegetable oils or waste, with similar or even more engine-friendly properties than fossil diesel fuel and reduces carbon emissions by up to 90%.
'In the misdemeanor procedure, it was confirmed that Olerex fulfilled less than 2% of the obligation for the proportion of sustainable fuels in 2022 and more than 10 million liters of fossil diesel fuel have been directed to consumption instead of diesel fuel made from renewable sources,' said Avarsalu.
The Environmental Board has previously penalized AS Olerex for failing to meet the biofuel requirement: at the end of 2021, the fuel seller narrowly missed meeting the biofuel proportion obligation, by a fraction of a percent. The Environmental Board then imposed a fine of 12 thousand euros for the first offense. However, in 2022, more than 80% of the required biofuel was not delivered.
'The adoption of renewable energy sources is an important step in combating climate change, so this is not a minor violation. We must also ensure that the violation does not economically pay off. Considering that this is a repeated violation, the Environmental Board imposed the largest fine in its history on Olerex: 8 million euros,' said Olav Avarsalu, Deputy Director-General of the Environmental Board.
'We see that consistent and careful control has also brought good results: looking at 2023, Olerex is fulfilling its biofuel obligation. In many service station chains, the consumer has the option to choose quality HVO produced from plant materials or waste instead of fossil diesel fuel, thus also showing their attitude towards environmental protection,' added Avarsalu.
A criminal investigation is still ongoing, checking the suspicion that AS Olerex has knowingly provided false information to the Tax and Customs Board about fuel brought into the country. The criminal investigation is conducted by the Central Criminal Police and the Environmental Board and is led by the Southern District Prosecutor's Office. The pre-trial procedure is in its final stages, and the case file will soon move to the prosecution.
This text was translated by artificial intelligence
