Swiss oil companies have blamed African governments for failure to invest in modernizing their refineries and newer vehicles, leading to the spread of respiratory diseases across the continent’s population.

Watchdog group Public Eye accused the downstream fuel traders of deliberately selling low-quality oil and gas fuels to African markets, which increase air pollution leading to respiratory diseases and early deaths.

The group named BP of Britain, Trafigura and Vitol of Switzerland as the main culprits who have engaged in blend dumping in fuels meant for markets in Ghana, Benin, Angola, Congo-Brazzaville, Mali, Zambia and Ivory Coast, Dirty Diesel reported last Thursday.

This is not the first time that Trafigura has been adversely mentioned in unethical trade practices in Africa.

In 2006, it was accused of dumping toxic waste in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. A year later, the oil trading company paid the government $160 million but failed to admit liability for the misconduct, BBC reported.

Public Eye also accused Lynx Energy and Addax &Oryx Group of using their petrol stations to distribute poor grade fuel shipped into the continent.

“What is very clear is that the role of improving fuel quality in Africa clearly rests with African governments, not with fuel suppliers,” African Refiners Association, which represents the traders, said in a letter of defense obtained by The Associated Press.

Africa has vast oil reserves but has lacks the capability to refine it. The crude oil is exported to European nations where it is refined and shipped back for use across the continent.

The watchdog group spent three years across Africa, investigating fuel shipments and checking quality of fuels used on the continent.

Most of the companies mix a cocktail of products at their refineries, popularly called ‘African Quality’, meant for African markets alongside dirty diesel and gasoline, Oilprice.com reported.

Low regulation systems have contributed to the vice. European markets allow ten parts per million of sulphur while in Africa, countries like Nigeria allow up to 3,000 parts per million, PressTv reported.

The fuels burn and release high levels of Sulphur dioxide that causes asthma and bronchitis.

Air pollution is a leading killer globally. More than 6.5 million people die annually. Africa and Asia have the highest number of premature deaths caused by the environmental hazard, according to World Economic Forum.