DOE stands firm on alternative fuels program amid ethanol concerns

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Energy (DOE) will not waver on its support for the government’s alternative fuels development program despite initial setbacks, particularly on the compatibility of ethanol-blended fuels on vehicles.

Energy Secretary Angelo Reyes said they would intensify their information campaign on the use of alternative fuels in the transport sector to ease concerns among consumers.

Earlier, Petron Corp. chairman and CEO Ramon Ang wrote the DOE asking for clearer guidelines on the use of ethanol on vehicles.

Ang expressed concern since it is normally the gasoline dealers who are being blamed for the alleged “corrosion” on the vehicles’ engine apparently caused by the ethanol-blended fuels.

But Homer Maranan, spokesman of the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., (Campi), the umbrella group of the country’s vehicle manufacturers, said there should be rules on good housekeeping for oil companies.

“There should be clear guidelines on good housekeeping from refinery blending point up to the pumps. There should be regular monitoring of quantity compliance of biofuels and maintenance of the blending areas. So there may be other reasons for the corrosion, it might not be traced on biofuels,” Maranan said.

DOE director Zenaida Monsada said they have been conducting dialogues with representatives of oil firms, car manufacturers and ethanol players to continuously improve the alternative fuels program of the government.

“We have set standards for E-10. These standards are internationally-accepted,” Monsada said.

The DOE, she said, is drafting a circular which will set clearer parameters on the ethanol blending scheme.

“We already have guidelines. We just have to let the people know that we have these rules already in place,” she added.

Monsada likewise said there are a lot of other factors that could lead to the corrosion of engines.

“The consumers should look at other factors that may affect their engines. It may be brought by other factors like poor maintenance of their cars,” she said.

Art Cruz, marketing director of independent oil firm Seaoil, pointed out that ethanol is being widely used in other countries for a long time.

“This product is not new. Brazil has been using it for years. Ethanol has been proven as a viable alternative fuel for vehicles. Ethanol is working on all fuel-injected vehicles. At Seaoil, we always inform our customers on what kind of fuel that we are selling to them,” Cruz said.