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Ethanol has been used as a transport fuel in many countries of the
world for several years. Its use as a substitute fuel has been internationally
recognized. The environmental benefits, energy security advantages
and foreign exchange savings caused by use of ethanol as a fuel
have been acknowledged. The usage of locally produced ethanol as
a transportation fuel has a long chain of activities and affects
many segments/groups. Presently major stakeholders in the ethanol
fuel chain are Oil Marketing companies, Ethanol Producers, Oil Refineries,
Ministry of environment, Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Resources
and most of all Ethanol consumers. Different stakeholders have their
own concerns regarding ethanol as a fuel. Hence, involvement of
these with conflicting interests arise the need of careful assessment
of all-important dimensions/factors regarding fuel Ethanol.
CPL
conducted a study for the Hydrocarbon Development Institute of Pakistan
(HDIP) and Alternative Energy Development Board (AEDB) on the directive
of Deputy Chairman Planning Commission. The study involved road
runs on different blends of ethanol and petrol. Fuel efficiency
and cost-effectiveness were analysed in the experiment. Additionally,
the concerns of storage, handling, transportation and blending were
also verified on this small scale experiment. During this testing
fuel efficiency of the engine was analyzed with different blends
of ethanol and found very comparable when analyzed with cost per
km. the straight volume to volume mixing did not indicate any problem.
Based on the results of this testing CPL recommends optional use
of ethanol.
Main Concerns regarding
Ethanol as Fuel
There
are several concerns of different stakeholders regarding the fuel
ethanol program, which need to be addressed before enforcing use
of Ethanol blended with petrol commercially.
1- Concerns of Oil marketing Companies & Refineries
2- Concerns of Ethanol Producers
3- Concerns of Government
Blending at Point
of Sale
Blending
of ethanol with petrol is a logistic concern, which has cost implications.
Blending either at oil refineries or depot of Oil Marketing Companies
OMCs requires pure ethanol to be first transported to blending points
and then from there to point of sale, hence the extra cost of transportation
and building storage / blending infrastructure at that level. To
reduce the cost of transportation and save the time, a model named
as Blending at Point of Sale is proposed
as a remedy to this matter. At the point of sale, ethanol will be
stored in separate storage tanks and will be blended at time of
sale at the discretion of customer. But for point-of-sale blending
specialized dispensing units are required.
CPL
is working on such a specialized Dispenser.
CPL has developed the mechanics to initiate a Pilot.
Project of Ethanol Filling Station to demonstrate
the above-said solution.
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