Neste biofuel to fuel vehicles based at Italian cross-country ski race

Netherlands-based oil and energy company Tamoil has begun selling arctic diesel containing Neste's renewable diesel to its corporate customers in the northern Italian Alps region, which will be used to fuel vehicles servicing the Marcialonga cross-country ski race in Italy.

Tamoil's Gasolio Artico fuel contains a minimum of 20% of Neste's renewable diesel and can be used in cold conditions, according to Neste.

"We are happy to be able to help our customer Tamoil to be the first in Northern Italy to launch a renewable fuel with excellent cold properties into the market," said Kaisa Hietala, executive vice president for Renewable Products at Neste.

According to the firm, Neste's renewable diesel does not contain any conventional FAME biodiesel, and therefore it can also be stored over long periods with full performance available immediately when necessary.

"The idea was born from strong will to be the first, in Italy, to put on the market a diesel produced from renewable sources, clean and environmentally friendly, characterised by high performance at low temperatures," said Aldo Lancia, logistics and wholesales manager at Tamoil Italia Supply.

He added: "This was the demand of our customers, for this reason we decided to cooperate with who really considers the environment a precious resource".

Vehicles of the Marcialonga cross-country ski race, which takes place on 31 January, will be powered by Tamoil's new diesel for the first time.

"The participants of the event and anyone who likes clean mountain air will certainly appreciate the use of a cleaner of fuel. It also reduces local emissions, and the experience is more comfortable to the skiers and event organisers alike," said Angelo Corradini, president of the Marcialonga Organising Committee.

Thousands of cross-country skiers from all around the world take part in the Marcialonga race every year. The race is 70km long, and it goes from Moena to Cavalese.