Lukewarm reception for bio-fuel E5
Petrol dealers are facing difficulties after bio-fuel E5 was sold in seven cities and provinces, including Hanoi, Danang and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, since December 1.
Exactly 48 of 94 petrol stations in central Danang City have distributed bio-fuel E5 and Mogas RON 95 instead of Mogas RON 92. Quite a few customers were observed to have purchased Mogas 95 even though the price of bio-fuel E5 was lower than that of Mogas 95.
On the other hand, representatives of petrol stations in Danang City revealed that they were facing difficulties in purchasing bio-fuel E5 to fill the tank, including transportation fare increases.
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Meanwhile, an official of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau industry and trade department said about 340 petrol stations here would provide bio-fuel E5 after selling the remaining Mogas 92 and washing the tanks.
Numerous private petrol stations in Hanoi have not sold bio-fuel E5 in place of Mogas 92 as regulated because of consumers' habits and the low demand for bio-fuel, which was a difficulty for them.
To date, three of 10 petrol dealers are selling bio-fuel products at 169 of 13,000 petrol stations throughout the country. Consumers prefer the traditional Mogas 92 and Mogas 95 fuel products over bio-fuel.
Figures from the Ministry of Industry and Trade show that bio-fuel represents a mere one-eighth of the consumption of traditional fuel products.
Besides, the benefits of bio-fuel E5 have not been widely communicated, and customers might not change their habit of purchasing traditional fuel products as quickly as expected by petrol production and distribution enterprises and State authorities.
Consisting of 95% petrol and 5% ethanol, bio-fuel E5 reportedly contributes to the reduction of environmental pollution and ensures the country's energy security.