The government of Jamaica on Tuesday announced its plans to introduce ethanol-blended gasoline to the motoring public by yearend.

In remarks made during his contribution to the 2008/09 budget sectoral debate in the House of Representatives, energy minister Clive Mullings advised that discussions have been concluded with marketing companies and other stakeholders for the government to introduce E10 – a blend of 10% ethanol in gasoline – in December.

E10 is immediately compatible with all existing gasoline blends and motor vehicles in the island and gasoline blended with up to 10% ethanol is approved under the warranties of all auto manufacturers marketing vehicles in the US.

The initial E10 rollout will take place in the corporate area and four parishes, and all government vehicles will be required to use E10. The use of E10 will be made mandatory island-wide in April 2009.

Minister Mullins confirmed that government has already committed J$300 million to the project, that the necessary equipment has been ordered and that the construction of the storage facility is scheduled to commence shortly.

A public education campaign will also be launched to facilitate the project. Ethanol has several advantages when used in vehicle fuel blends. Ethanol contains oxygen, which improves fuel combustion and reduces exhaust emissions; it reduces emissions of carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds, toxics and fine particulates that pose a health threat and, as a renewable fuel, ethanol helps reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

Jamaican motorists use approximately 4.5 million gallons of gasoline annually.

Jamaica is the largest producer of fuel-grade ethanol in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The country’s three ethanol refineries produce (using raw ethanol imported from Brazil and elsewhere) about 150 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol annually for export to the US. The country's ethanol production and export is expected to significantly increase as government concludes negotiations for the sale of five state-owned sugar factories to Brazilian company Infinity BioEnergy.

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