Shell to help combat petrol sniffing

NATIONAL: Shell will join the fight against petrol sniffing in remote Aboriginal communities after agreeing to produce non-sniffable Opal fuel for the first time.

Minister for Indigenous Health Warren Snowdon announced on Monday Shell would join BP in producing and supplying the fuel in remote Australia.

BP will continue supplying the fuel in Central and South Australia and parts of Western Australia, including the goldfields and the Ngaanyatjarra lands.

While, Shell will focus on supplying the Top End of the Northern Territory, Queensland’s Gulf of Carpentaria and Cape York, and WA’s east Kimberley.

The new arrangements will see Opal fuel rolled out to an extra 39 sites, Mr Snowdon said.

Last week, the Senate passed a private member’s bill making mandatory what has been a voluntary Opal fuel rollout in remote parts of the Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia and Queensland.

There are 123 petrol stations selling Opal fuel in remote parts of Australia, but six retailers in the rollout zones don’t.

The handful of petrol stations boycotting the voluntary program could be forced to sell Opal fuel once the legislation is endorsed by the lower house next year.

AAP