Promoting the use of biofuel is in line with the trend.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing a policy to develop the E10 biofuel market, moving towards mandatory use nationwide from January 1, 2026 (first pilot implementation in Ho Chi Minh City from August 1, 2025).

This is considered an important step in the roadmap to reduce emissions and implement the commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050. SGGP Newspaper reporter had an interview with Dr. Dao Duy Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Innovation - Green Transformation and Industrial Promotion (the unit assigned by the Minister of Industry and Trade to preside over the research, propose a roadmap and policy to deploy E10 gasoline in the coming time).

Dr. Dao Duy Anh

REPORTER: Why did the Ministry of Industry and Trade decide to switch to E10 gasoline and what is the specific implementation roadmap, sir?

Mr. DAO DUY ANH: Since 2012, the Prime Minister has issued Decision No. 53/2012/QD-TTg on promulgating a roadmap for applying the blending ratio of biofuels with traditional fuels. Studies have shown that when blending biofuels (ethanol) into mineral gasoline, the content of the main greenhouse gases (CO2, N2O, CH4) in vehicle emissions decreases sharply according to the blending ratio of ethanol into mineral gasoline. Therefore, the Ministry of Industry and Trade is developing a roadmap to replace the roadmap of Decision 53/2012/QD-TTg, expected to blend and supply E10 gasoline nationwide from January 1, 2026. Currently, the Vietnam National Petroleum Group ( Petrolimex ) has a plan to pilot the blending and supply of E10 gasoline in Ho Chi Minh City from August 1, 2025.

But the important thing is how is the supply of E10 gasoline? Currently, even with E5 gasoline, these factories are facing many difficulties in fuel and cannot compete with imports?

Currently, there are 6 ethanol factories nationwide that have been invested in and built, with a total capacity of about 500,000 ^m3 /year. However, due to many objective and subjective reasons, including the slow consumption of ethanol (E100) fuel, making production inefficient, only 2/6 factories are still operating with the capacity to supply the market with about 100,000 ^m3 /year. When the demand for E100 increases according to the E10 application roadmap as mentioned above, the amount of E100 needed will be about 1.2-1.5 million ^m3 . In the first stage, we will depend mainly on imported sources. After that, we will gradually improve our self-sufficiency by restoring ethanol factories. After that, we will develop new factories.

A gas station in Ho Chi Minh City is preparing E10 gasoline for trial sale from August 1.

So what are the prerequisites for domestic ethanol to compete with cheap imports, sir?

In order for domestic ethanol products to compete with imported goods, we need to have synchronous policies from support mechanisms, encouraging the development of domestic production to the use of modern technology, high-performance equipment, production processes, and effective business management to reduce product costs of enterprises. To successfully implement the plan according to the expected roadmap, it is necessary to have the participation of the entire political system, businesses and consumers. In particular, "bottlenecks" related to mechanisms, policies, infrastructure for storage, blending, transportation, distribution, communication work to raise awareness and provide accurate information about biofuel need to be simultaneously resolved.

Will switching to E10 gasoline cause gasoline prices to increase due to increased blending and transportation costs?

Increasing the blending ratio of ethanol into gasoline will further reduce the greenhouse gas content in vehicle emissions. In recent years, the price of ethanol has always been lower than the price of gasoline. Therefore, blending with ethanol will not increase the cost of fuel. That price difference can offset the costs of blending and distributing biofuel.

After nearly 10 years of use, E5 gasoline is still suspected of damaging engines and consuming more fuel. What plans does the Ministry of Industry and Trade have to fundamentally change this perception when switching to E10 gasoline?

The “suspicion” that E5 gasoline harms engines is an unfounded speculation. In fact, in Vietnam, E5 RON92 gasoline has been piloted and then widely used nationwide since 2014, without any consumer feedback on negative effects on engine performance or life (reports from Petrolimex, Saigon Petro...). In the world, biofuel has been used in the US, Brazil, Europe... since the 70s of the last century. Reports also show that there has been no case with evidence that ethanol-blended gasoline has a negative impact on engines.

If E10 gasoline is made mandatory, will people still have the choice to use RON95?

With the benefits of environmental protection, technical testing, and practical use over the years in Vietnam and around the world, there is no basis to affirm that ethanol-blended gasoline has a negative impact on engine performance and life. Therefore, promoting the use of biofuel is in line with the country's development orientation and the world trend. From managers to businesses and the whole society, everyone sees that, in order to clean up the living environment, it is necessary to convert all transportation fuels to E10 biofuel, ending the use of mineral gasoline.

Performed by VAN PHUC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/day-manh-su-dung-xang-sinh-hoc-la-phu-hop-voi-xu-the-post805754.html