Germany approves E10 gasoline for sale at pumps next year

27 October 2010 16:47  [Source: ICIS news]

TORONTO (ICIS)--Germany’s government has approved the sale of 10% bioethanol blended gasoline (E10) at petrol stations effective 1 January, it said on Wednesday.

The move, which was in line with a EU directive of fuel quality, would help Europe’s largest economy to further reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from cars and reduce its dependence on imported oil, said environment minister Norbert Rottgen.

Some 90% of all gasoline-powered vehicles on German roads could drive on E10, the government said.

E10 will be offered in addition to the existing 5% (E5) blends.

German biofuels industry groups welcomed the move.

One group, BDB, said it expected a “noticeable increase” in demand for bioethanol from the measure, providing German bioethanol producers with the incentive to expand their capacities.

According to BDB data, last year Germany produced only 600,000 tonnes of bioethanol, compared with over 32m tonnes produced in the US.

The German move comes as the US Environmental Protection Agency earlier this month approved the sale of 15% ethanol fuel blends (E15).

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By: Stefan Baumgarten
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