A special committee formed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has recommended a 5% voluntary (optional) blending of ethanol in petrol.
The committee, led by Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, submitted its report suggesting that this move be based on commercial viability and discussions with oil companies.
Why Ethanol?
The biggest advantage is cost. The committee found that ethanol is consistently cheaper than petrol, with an average price difference of $225 per ton.
However, since ethanol has less energy than petrol, it needs to be 20-30% cheaper to be truly cost-effective for consumers.
Major Challenges
Despite the benefits, there are significant hurdles:
- Short Supply
Ethanol is a by-product of sugarcane crushing, a powerful industry in Pakistan, and so, we produce about 450,000 tons of ethanol annually, but most is exported because it fetches a higher price abroad.
- Infrastructure Cost
Huge investments are needed to build special storage and blending facilities.
A History of Failure
This isn’t the first time Pakistan has tried this. In 2010, PSO launched a pilot project with 10% ethanol (E-10), selling it at a lower price than regular petrol. However, the project was shut down in 2012 because ethanol producers preferred exporting their stock for higher profits, leading to a shortage.
Global Success Stories
The committee looked at international examples for guidance. Brazil has been blending ethanol since 1975 and now uses up to 27%. India started in 2003 and has reached 10% blending, aiming for 20% to reduce its fuel import bills and cut pollution. The US also uses flexible blending targets based on availability.
How This Decision Can Affect Millions of Carebueraotr Vehicles in Pakistan?
While modern EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) engines are designed to adapt to ethanol blends, older carburetor-based engines are far more vulnerable. Unlike EFI systems, which use sensors to automatically adjust fuel delivery, carburetors cannot sense the oxygen content of the fuel and adjust accordingly.
Stay tuned to PakWheels on Google News. We will soon publish a detailed technical analysis of the potential risks of ethanol blending for carburetor-based engines, especially on motorcycles, which are particularly vulnerable, since all locally manufactured motorcycles in Pakistan use carburetors.
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