Filling ethanol blended petrol in India
Government of Nepal has approved Order-2082 on the use of ethanol blended in petroleum fuel. The Council of Ministers meeting held Monday decided to approve the order.
Ethanol is a renewable fuel made from various plant materials collectively known as “biomass.”
Since ethanol production is possible from sugarcane molasses and it is produced in Nepal, it is also possible to blend ethanol in Nepal. Nepal Oil Corporation says that if ethanol can be blended, petroleum product imports will be reduced.
Although the government had earlier made arrangements to allow ethanol to be mixed with petroleum products 22 years ago, in 2060 BS, it had remained unimplemented. The government had earlier made arrangements to allow up to 10 percent ethanol to be mixed with imported petroleum products.
A circular was published in the Nepal Gazette on November 29, 2060, allowing for the blending of 10 percent ethanol. Studies and recommendations on ethanol blending made since then have also put forward the same policy.
In India, the country where Nepal purchase petroleum products, there is a system for blending 20 percent ethanol. Likewise, more than 98% of U.S. gasoline contains ethanol to oxygenate the fuel. Typically, gasoline contains E10 (10% ethanol, 90% gasoline).
