Brasília – Brazil’s Chief of Staff Aloizio Mercadante and sugar and ethanol industry delegates have agreed this Monday (2nd) on increasing from 25% to 27% the amount of anhydrous ethanol blended into regular gasoline, the chairperson of the Sugarcane and Union (Unica), Elizabeth Farina, has said today. The intended schedule should see the change implemented on February 15th. The proposal is still pending approval from president Dilma Rousseff.
Farina said the agreement was eagerly awaited by the sugar and ethanol industry. “Chief of Staff Mercadante said he will submit the deal to president Rousseff tomorrow (3rd). As per schedule, the new blend should begin on February 15th. Emission, consumption and driveability tests have not shown any significant changes,” the Unica chairperson said.
At first, premium gas will still retain a 25% rate. According to the chairman of the National Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Association (Anfavea), Luiz Moan, the plan is to increase the ethanol rate in both regular and premium gas to 27.5%. According to him, tests are still required before a 27.5% rate can be adopted for both fuel types.
According to the Unica chairperson, the adding of 27% ethanol to regular gasoline is expected to create an additional demand for 1 billion litres per year. She said the industry has the capacity to meet the higher demand.
*Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum