Brazil-Japan Ethanol rallies for E3

Brazil-Japan Ethanol Co. Ltd. said it intends to go all out to spread consumer acceptance in Japan of its E3 fuel, a blend of 3% bioethanol and 97% gasoline. Through expansions, the company, a joint venture between Japan Alcohol Trading Co. Ltd. and Brazilian energy major Petrobras SA, aims to firmly establish its bioethanol import business in the country. From having only one service station supplying E3 in the Kanto region on the eastern side of Japan’s main island, it plans to increase its network to 10 service stations within a year, selling 10,000 kiloliters per month (klpm) of E3. Brazil-Japan Ethanol has has set 1,000 klpm as year’s sales target for its E3, which is made with bioethanol produced by Bio Ethanol Japan Kansai and gasoline supplied by Okinawa-based Nansei Sekiyu K.K., a Petrobras subsidiary. (April 10, 2009)