• XAs the world grapples with the challenge of Climate Change, Kenya is makng significant stride in reducing the environmental impact of diesel engines in the motoring sector. A new solution called Ad Blue has been introduced in the country. This technology is non-toxic and it aims at reducing Nitrogen Oxide emissions( NOx) from diesel vehicles, which are harmful .These gases cause diseases such asthma and Bronchitis, greatly affecting he health sector.

As the world grapples with the challenge of Climate Change, Kenya is making a significant stride in reducing the environmental impact of diesel engines in the motoring sector. A new solution called Ad Blue has been introduced in the country.

This technology is non-toxic and it aims at reducing Nitrogen Oxide emissions( NOx) from diesel vehicles, which are harmful. These gases cause diseases such asthma and Bronchitis, greatly affecting the health sector.

The Ad Blue solution is a diesel exhaust fluid, made from a mixture of urea and de-ionized water which converts the NOX into Nitrogen and water vapor. A small amount of solution is injected into the exhaust system of a diesel engine, where it reacts with the NOx emissions to produce water vapor and nitrogen gas. This process is referred to as selective catalytic reduction and is said to minimize NOX emissions by up to 90%.

The origin of Ad Blue solution goes way back to 2015, when the European Union sat down and set down the standard limit of NOX to be produced in diesel engines should be 0.25%. In order to achieve this, car manufacturers had to improvise a technology Selective Catalytic Technology (SCR) that that breaks down the NO gas into Nitrogen and Oxygen to meet these standards.

However, there is limited public information about this technology. Many Kenyans import diesel vehicles with the systems and tanks without the knowledge that their cars have these systems and they can use this solution.

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Speaking in an interview on October 15, 2024, Brenda Waitherero, Operational Manager Ad Blue stated, ”A lot of Diesel vehicle owners don’t even know that their cars have these systems and can even use this solution.”

"The few people with access to this information are forced to import it resulting to extra importation costs, since there are only a handful of companies manufacturing the product in Kenya.” Those who know about it have been importing it and the importation fees cause the product to be much higher,” she added.

The country is set to achieve 100% clean energy by 2030. Through embracing the green economy in the automotive industry and innovating technologies such as Ad Blue, the country will get there.