Pakistan to undertake E10 study

Pakistan’s Petroleum Ministry has been directed by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to carry out a study to assess the harmful effects of E10 (10% ethanol blend) gasoline on motor engines, the Business Recorder said. The controversial plan of blending E10 with petrol is a joint venture of the Ministries of Industries and Production and Petroleum. This project was also proposed during the Shaukat Aziz government, but was declared unsuccessful. Sources said that the ECC had allowed marketing of E10 on trial basis, with a view of devising a mechanism for fixing the price of molasses to ensure that the cost of ethanol production remains competitive. (October 31, 2009)