28 September 2011
United Petroleum congratulates the NSW government’s decision to raise the NSW ethanol mandate to 6% as scheduled.
The inclusion of ethanol at 10% in Petrol reduces hydrocarbon emissions by up to 30% and particulate emissions by up to a massive 50%. It is these emissions that can detrimentally affect the health of people, to the extent that they can and do trigger lung cancers.
Independents such as United Petroleum sell E10 Petrol at a discount to regular petrol as ethanol is a less expensive component. The major oil companies buy ethanol from ethanol producers at significant discounts to the price of petrol, yet at the same time misleadingly claim that it raises the price of petrol. The decision to raise the mandate to 6% will lower the price of petrol and thus NSW consumers will save on their weekly petrol bills.
Supply of ethanol in Australia is strong and is growing as Australian ethanol producers continue to invest in production infrastructure. As demand increases in Australia investments are being made by Australian companies displacing foreign oil.
Ethanol is a truly renewable fuel source which easily replaces foreign oil. E10 petrol not only reduces the impacts of tailpipe emissions and improves Australia’s balance of payments, but is a better performing fuel. E10 burns more quickly and completely in car engines.
In 29 of the 34 OECD countries there are Ethanol Mandates in place for the very same reasons the NSW Government introduced its Mandate. United Petroleum call on the other State Governments to follow the lead of the NSW Government.
General Motors Holden (GMH) introduced E85 capable vehicles into Australia such that around 50,000 new Commodores each year will be able to operate on E85 fuel. This investment by GMH has created and supported much needed jobs in the Australian Manufacturing Industry.
Although the inclusion of ethanol into petrol is so important to the Australian Community, it is actively and aggressively resisted by the Major Oil companies in Australia. The resistance is due to the simple fact that they do not manufacture or control the supply chain in Australia. However at the same time the Major Oil companies make billion dollar investments in ethanol production plants overseas and widely distribute and promote ethanol blended fuels in other countries. Clearly the Major Oil companies put profits in Australia ahead of the health of people and the environment.