|
A businessman who has pioneered a process to create bio-diesel from vegetable oil yesterday and issued a double warning to motorists tempted by a new tax-dodging scam.
A special police unit nicknamed the "frying squad" has been formed in a town in South Wales where hundred of drivers are believed to have been running their vehicles on cooking oil after supermarkets in the Llanelli area reported a big rise in cooking oil sales.
They have been doing it to save nearly 40p a litre on fuel. But they are falling foul of the law by dodging excise duty.
And yesterday Dennis Thouless, who runs Global Commodities UK at Shipdham, near Dereham, said as well as facing heavy fines and even imprisonment and having their cars confiscated, anyone tempted to copy the scam could also ruin their car.
The company has a factory which has been specifically designed to make bio-diesel and has to come up to a strict specification.
Global Commodities is producing 4.5 million litres a year of so-called driveECO and is planning to expand further.
The bio-diesel is cheaper than other motor fuel - but only because the Government backs the approved scheme and has reduced excise duty. But its enforcement arm Customs and Excise has outlawed the practice of using vegetable oil straight from shops.
Mr Thouless said pouring oil bought at a supermarket into a car could cause long-term problems. "This sort of thing has been going on for some time and there are a lot of cowboys about. It can play havoc with the engine. It is surprising what people will do to save a bit of money."
An AA spokesman supported Mr Thouless's view. "Frying-driving could severely damage your vehicle. You should always follow the manufacturer's instructions about which fuel to use"
A Customs and Excise spokes-woman said: "All cars travelling on public roads must pay tax on the fuel they use. These people are just trying to get away from paying the duty."
Global Commodities UK is a finalist in the environment category of the EDP Business Awards, to be presented in Norwich tonight.
From the Eastern Daily Press – October 2002
| 
