The introduction of fuel with a high bioethanol content will enable Ukraine to reduce its petrol imports, says an expert
Serhiy Kuyun wrote about this on his Facebook page.
“Only the new E10 petrol standard is being introduced, which means a bioethanol content of 7% or higher. Price: 15–25 dollars per tonne more expensive than E10, but no one will even notice those 50–75 kopecks per litre against a background of 75 UAH per litre at the pump, and no one will even bother to check the price because of it. Quality: there will be no change in the quality of the fuel or its properties. Previously, a petrochemical octane booster was used; now a plant-based one will be used. Benefits: we already have plenty of bioethanol, and within 2–3 years there will be ten times as much; the necessary production capacity is already being built. This will allow us to reduce petrol imports (for which we must not stop, but instead massively introduce fuels with a high bioethanol content, including E85), increase bioethanol exports (although Europe isn’t exactly waiting for us), and boost the agricultural sector,” the published post states.
The expert also emphasised that E5 standards (5% biofuel), let alone B7 (the current European standard for diesel fuel with 7% biodiesel content), are not currently being introduced in Ukraine.
“E5 was introduced on 1 May last year, but at the end of June the government was effectively forced to suspend the programme due to the destruction of the Kremenchuk refinery and the risk of a petrol shortage with characteristics atypical for Europe. However, a decision was made to make up for this by moving to the next stage – E7 – from 1 July this year,” he noted.
According to Serhiy Kuyun, such changes will have a powerful comprehensive effect for both consumers and the entire fuel market.
As previously reported by ThePublic, Gennadiy Ryabtsev, deputy director of the Psychea Scientific and Technical Centre, stated that from 1 July, Ukrainian petrol stations will begin using new fuel labelling based on the European model. The labels E5, E10 and B7 will appear on the pumps, indicating the biofuel content in petrol and diesel.
