The government has proposed making the blending of ethanol with locally sold petrol voluntary, saying that high ethanol prices make compulsory blending impractical at this stage, reports Profit.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a high-level meeting on Thursday to review the proposal and assess its implications.
During the meeting, the chairman of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) presented a detailed plan. Representatives from the Pakistan Ethanol Manufacturers Association and the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association were also present. The session was attended by Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Bajwa, along with the secretaries of the Petroleum and Industries & Production ministries.
The committee agreed that ethanol blending should be carried out only in cases where it is financially workable for both refineries and ethanol producers.
OGRA was instructed to submit quarterly reports comparing the financial gains from using ethanol domestically with those from exporting it. These reports will be forwarded through the Petroleum Division to the Prime Minister’s Office for review.
