While fuel companies have assured users that diesel problems would soon subside as new uncontaminated fuel enters the system, many agricultural users have been left with old diesel and face ongoing uncertainty and inconvenience.
Most farms have on-farm storage tanks that are topped up by a supplier on a regular basis.
For many farmers it may take months before they are burning completely uncontaminated fuel. Farmers experiencing problems have been offered technical support by fuel companies and replacement of clogged filters, but companies have not answered any requests for fuel replacement. This debacle raises serious concerns about the quality of diesel supplied to the consumer in New Zealand. The federation is asking the Minister of Energy to inquire into the specifications used in New Zealand.