PetroVietnam launches E5 sales

State-run PetroVietnam this month started sales of 5% ethanol-blended gasoline or E5 at 20 of its retail stations and will soon expand to 31 outlets, an official at PV Oil, a PetroVietnam subsidiary, said. E5 is now available in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Vung Tau, Hai Phong and Hai Duong, and will soon be made available in Da Nang, Hue and Can Tho. The company aims to expand sales to all its outlets by 2012, the official said. PetroVietnam has priced E5 at VND15,990 (US$0.84) per liter (84 cents/liter), VND500 (US$0.03) per liter below 92 RON gasoline. PV Oil currently has four blending facilities and plans to build three ethanol plants by next year. The blending facilities are in Hai Phong, Da Nang, Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh City. (August 5, 2010)