Argentina allows up to 15% ethanol blend into gasoline

Argentina’s government said on ​Friday it will allow local firms to ‌voluntarily blend up to 15% ethanol into gasoline, in a bid to curb the impact from higher ​oil prices on local fuel costs.

“The ​measure aims to give the industry greater ⁠flexibility and to cushion any potential increases ​in pump fuel prices, protecting consumers,” the Energy ​Secretariat said in a statement.

Gasoline prices in the South American country rose more than 18% in March, ​according to analyst estimates, driven by the U.S.-Israel ​war on Iran and have climbed more than 60% year‑on‑year.

Argentina’s ‌Energy ⁠Secretariat, which reports to the Ministry of Economy, increased the maximum permitted oxygen content in fuel to 5.6%, giving refiners flexibility to ​add more ​ethanol and ⁠use less gasoline in their fuel blends to help reduce overall ​costs.

It said that the resolution does not impose ​new ⁠requirements on refiners, or modify the mandatory bioethanol blend. It also does not introduce changes to ⁠the ​current biodiesel regime, that ​already allow blends of up to 20%.

Tags: Argentina, biofuel