Written question asked by Bernard Jenkin (Conservative) on Monday, 3 December 2007, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 5 December 2007. It was answered by Bob Ainsworth (Labour) on Thursday, 13 December 2007 on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.

Iraq: Peacekeeping Operations

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what fuel with additives is being used for light (a) class, (b) class wheeled and (c) class platform vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan; who is contracted to supply such fuel; what effect use of this fuel has had on fuel costs; how many engine breakdowns and write-offs have occurred attributed to use of such fuel in 2007; and what the cost of repairs and replacements arising has been.

Answer: In Iraq, Class A, B and C vehicles are fuelled using diesel (F-54) with no additives during the winter months. In the summer a 50/50 blend of diesel and aviation fuel (F-34) known as F-65 together with a lubricant additive, Lubrizol 539M, is used. The fuels are obtained from the US military in Kuwait under the UK-US Fuel Exchange agreement, with logistic support provided by two contractors. F-65 is approximately 11 per cent. more expensive than plain diesel.In Afghanistan, vehicles are operated in accordance with the NATO single fuel policy where this is technically feasible. The fuel is aviation fuel (F-34) (which has already been treated with AL41 Icing Inhibitor and AL61 Lubricity Improver) to which Lubrizol 539M is also added, the resulting mixture being referred to as F-63. A number of vehicle types are being fuelled with F-54 at certain locations for operational reasons, these include engineering plant, Warrior and CVR(T) vehicles. These fuels are provided under a NATO contract with a civilian contractor. In Afghanistan, F-34 is approximately two per cent. more expensive than F-54.No breakdowns have been apportioned to the use of any of these fuel types. During the transition from diesel to F-65 or F-63 use, there can be a transient increase in fuel filter use as the F-34 component has a cleansing effect on the engine.

Secondary information