KARACHI, May 23: Auto makers say that higher than three per cent ethanol content in petrol can affect the engine performance of cars, two- and three-wheeler.
Petroleum dealers and refineries also expressed reservations over the blending of 10 per cent ethanol with petrol.
A senior official in the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) said that the association while taking up this matter in January 2007 and later in December 2008 with the government had taken the position that for technical reasons the extent of blending should be gradual and the starting point ratio should be three per cent or E-3.
He added that mixing up to three per cent ethanol with petrol would not affect the components of fuel supply system and engine regardless of their design.
He said higher than three per cent ethanol content may adversely interact with rubber and metal parts and may also negatively affect the performance of the vehicle. “The association still has these reservations if 10 per cent ethanol is mixed with petrol,” he added.
Meanwhile, a car maker said that the new locally produced cars with latest global standard quality engines may tolerate the 10 per cent ethanol content in petrol, but the problem would arrive in vehicles having old technology engines plying on the roads in huge numbers.
On the other hand, Pakistan State Oil (PSO) has not yet received any instructions from the government how to re-initiate the E-10 project in a practical way as a previous pilot project launched by the PSO under government’s patronage had failed miserably in 2006-2007.
PSO had launched the project in Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore in which the new fuel was introduced experimentally as part of government’s strategy to promote alternate energy resources.
The then government was of the view that the ethanol, a byproduct of molasses through distillation, would not only be comparatively cheaper but would also enhance performance of the engine through lead removal. It would also benefit the farmer, who would feel attracted to grow more sugarcane and get adequate compensation.
It was planned that the pilot project would be conducted for six months, with 25 pre-identified vehicles using ethanol-blended gasoline in each city being monitored by the Hydrocarbon Development Institute and PSO to evaluate their performance, customer response and feedback. Due to government’s negligence, the project had been suspended last year by the PSO.
Aftab Husain, General Manager Supply and Planning at Pakistan Refinery Limited (PRL), said much would depend on the pricing structure of locally produced petrol and ethanol blended petrol. “The government has to subsidise by reducing its petroleum development levy (PDL) if ex–refinery price of ethanol is higher than petrol in order to give benefit to the consumers.” Secondly, he asked who would ensure and guarantee the sustainable supply of ethanol to the local market if international price of ethanol was better than local price. “The exporters of ethanol will opt for the export to maximise their profits,” he observed. Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association chairman Abdul Sami Khan said that the government had not clearly mentioned as to how customers would benefit in shape of any cut in petrol prices and what it would make a difference on the mileage of a vehicle.
He said the dealers had to invest further by making some changes in the storage tanks. He said it was not clear as to why the government had selected only PSO and not other oil marketing companies (OMCs). “The govern ment is only trying to give some benefit to the sugar millers instead of general public,” he remarked.
Oil sector people say, among some disadvantages, the heating value of ethanol is less than motor gasoline.They point out that it may separate from gasoline (a separate layer) in the storage tanks/vehicle tanks under certain conditions. The tendency of separation increases with temperature. Ethanol can cause vapor lock in low temperature conditions.
“Ethanol fuel could adversely impact the vehicle’s working and possible engine damage due to its poor octane sensitivity of ethanol/gasoline blend. In many countries the base octane of petrol is 95 and not 87 as in Pakistan,” they explained.
The heat content in ethanol is only 70 per cent of petrol which means that the blend will not give the same mileage to the motorists. A 10 per cent blend is likely to increase fuel consumption by about two to three per cent.
It is hygroscopic and can easily absorb moisture and therefore requires special handling at the depots to avoid water contamination. Ethanol would be blended by the OMCs then they need to look at compatibility issues with those additives that they are using.