By Hayal Alemayehu

The government is schedule to increase the proportion of ethanol being blended in benzene to 10 percent beginning March 7. For over a year now, the benzene that has been in use in Addis Ababa and its environs has been a blend of five percent ethanol and 95 percent benzene -commonly known as E5 in the oil market.

The Ministry of Energy and Waters has now notified fuel distributing companies in the country to get ready for E10, which is tentatively scheduled to hit the market on March 7, according to Ephrem Hasssan, Bio Fuel Development Coordination Directorate Director at the ministry.

The E10 will initially be distributed in Addis Ababa and its environs and may later make it nationwide if oil companies operating in the country overhaul their depot scattered across the country and build new ones before the year winds up.

With Metehara Sugar Factory joining Fincha in the production of ethanol, there is a potential to cover the 10 percent mix for nationwide consumption, according to Ephrem.

Fincha, one of the three state-owned factories, has been producing up to eight million liters of ethanol while Metehara has embarked on an annual production of 10.5 million liters as of the current year.

Nile Petroleum, the Sudan-based company which has been blending E5 for consumption in Addis Ababa at its depot built in Sululta, 25 kms northwest of the city.

Oil Libya will join Nile Petroleum in blending E10, according to Ephrem.

EthiopianReporter