ECC allows marketing of E10 for cars

The Pakistani federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has allowed marketing of Ethanol 10 (E10) motor vehicle fuel, a 10% ethanol-fuel mix, on a trial basis in Pakistan State Oil (PSO) stations. With its decision, the government said it hopes to reduce motor vehicle owners’ reliance on imported petroleum products by letting them use appropriate blended substitutes. Anhydrous ethanol, ethanol with less than 1% water, is one such product, which can be blended with gasoline in varying proportions. Most gasoline vehicle engines operate well with mixtures of 10% Ethanol E10. The ECC further decided that E10 will be treated as motor vehicle fuel. The ECC also allowed the Oil and Gas Development Co. Ltd. (OGDCL) to supply gas from their Bahu Field to M/s Fauji Kabirwala Power Co. Ltd. The ECC approved issuance of the government’s guarantee of PkRs1 billion (US$12.33 million) for the Pakistan Textile City, Karachi for a period of two year. It is a joint venture of Government of Pakistan, public sector and prime financial institutions. (May 19, 2009)