The End Of Red Diesel Is Coming… So How Do We Power Our Quarries Now?
Quarry operators must by now be aware that the UK government is changing regulations relating to diesel fuel charges in 2022. Currently, quarry operators can save money by using red diesel, but this will soon come to an end. It's important to consider what impact the end of red diesel will have on quarries in the future and whether this change means that quarry operators should consider other kinds of fuel.
What Is Red Diesel?
Red diesel is a particular kind of diesel that is dyed red in order to stop individuals from using it in vehicles on the road. It's regular diesel that is completely free of duty charges, and it can be used in quarries in other off-road situations. Because of the tax cuts that red diesel users benefit from, red diesel has been a cost-effective fuel for quarry operators for many years.
However, in April 2022, all of this is changing, when red diesel will not be allowed on quarries, whether in equipment or to generate electricity, and will instead only be permitted for use on farms, fish farms, and other agricultural and forestry facilities. From April 2022, all quarry operators will be paying a lot more for their fuel, and they will have big decisions to make relating to their fuel use in the future.
What Can Quarry Operators Do?
Most quarry operators have two real options to prepare for this change:
• Switch to another kind of fuel, such as electricity
• Continue using diesel and pay a higher price for the fuel
Where possible, electricity is the most cost-effective way to fuel quarry pumps and machinery. But if you're running a pump in a remote quarry where electricity isn't an option, diesel pumps are one of the few options available to you.
What Does The Future Look Like?
There's no doubt that these changes to fuel taxation reflect the government's priorities to reduce the use of fossil fuels across all industries over the coming years. Quarry operators, just like other industry leaders, should be looking to reduce their carbon emissions in the long term. This means considering other kinds of fuel; not just electricity, but hydrogen, solar, and wind. These eco-friendly fuel options aren't a possibility at the moment, but for remote quarries where electricity isn't an option, these fuel types could prove very valuable one day soon.
For the moment, it's worth exploring bio-fuel, a plant-based fuel that can help quarry operators to reduce their carbon emissions. However, currently, there's no cost advantage to using bio-fuel over diesel, which explains why the uptake of this fuel type isn't yet very high.
In the meantime, watch this space. To find out more about quarry pumps and how we can improve your business’s sustainability, contact us today.
