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refiner Petron Corp. launched Monday its new 10-percent
ethanol- blended gasoline (E10) Premium product in
selected Metro Manila service stations as part of
efforts to make available cheaper and more
environment-friendly fuels for motorists.
Amid
soaring gasoline prices, Petron said its E10 Premium
will be priced P2 a liter cheaper than Xtra Unleaded 93
RON. Petron E10 Premium is a new especially formulated
unleaded gasoline that meets and exceeds the
requirements of the Philippine biofuels law.
It
contains 10-percent fuel-grade ethanol and 90-percent
Petron Premium Unleaded Gasoline with enhanced fuel
additive. Petron said the unique additive allows the
removal of existing deposits, resulting in improved
power and fuel economy.
Petron
noted that its introduction of ethanol is ahead of the
implementation of the Biofuels Law of 2006, which
mandates a 5-percent ethanol blend in gasolines by 2009
and a 10-percent blend by 2011.
That the
new product comes nearly three years ahead of the legal
mandate was attributed by Nicasio Alcantara, Petron
chairman and chief executive, to Petron’s efforts to
promote environment-friendly alternative fuels that can
be produced locally. “Once available in the country, the
use of ethanol as an additive to gasoline will lessen
our dependence on imported oil.”
Petron
will offer the E10 Premium at selected service stations
in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City; Marcos Hi-way (Westbound
and Eastbound), Pasig City; A. Santos Avenue, Parañaque;
San Marcelino Street in Paco, Manila; Quezon Avenue,
Quezon City; Osmeña Hi-way, Makati; Shaw Bloulevard,
Pasig City; Macapagal Avenue, Pasay City; West Service
Road, Parañaque; Circumferential Road, Antipolo; FB
Harrison, Manila; Boni Avenue, Mandaluyong; and Ortigas
Extension, Taytay Rizal; and to more service stations in
the coming months.
In the
middle of 2006, Petron signed a memorandum of
understanding with San Carlos Bioenergy Inc. (SCBI) to
off-take SCBI’s entire ethanol production. SCBI is
constructing an integrated sugar mill, cogeneration
plant and distillery complex for ethanol production in
San Carlos, Negros Occidental. That facility, which can
produce 125,000 liters of anhydrous ethanol
(99.5-percent purity) daily and will be fueled entirely
from biomass resources particularly bagasse, is expected
to be operational by end-2008.
Ethanol
is a high-octane, water-free alcohol produced from sugar
cane and other crops such as corn, cassava, sweet
sorghum. It is used as a blending component at 5-10
percent concentrations in gasoline. Unlike fossil fuels,
ethanol is virtually inexhaustible, since agricultural
products can be grown and harvested continually under a
sustainable system.
“The use
of ethanol in gasoline will have a positive impact on
the environment since it is biodegradable and
significantly reduces harmful exhaust emissions,” said
Kamal M. Al-Yahya, Petron president.
Petron
E10 Premium may be used in most fuel-injected vehicles,
whether old or new, and may be used without expensive
engine modification. Those planning to use E-10 Premium
are advised, however, to refer to their car manual or
consult their car dealer.
Ethanol
is widely used in countries such as Brazil, United
States and Canada. Recognizing the advantages of
ethanol, other countries such as Thailand, China, India
and Japan have their own ethanol programs. |
