Ho Chi Minh City Switches to Biofuel

Starting December 1, gasoline E5 will be widely sold at 58 filling stations in Ho Chi Minh City in accordance with the Government's plan to market the blend in seven provinces and cities including Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Can Tho, Quang Ngai and Ba Ria – Vung Tau.

The government plan went into effect in December, which requires the city to gradually replace 92-octane gasoline (A92) with E5--five percent of which is ethanol from cassava. The HCMC Department of Trade and Industry said ten of the 19 fuel companies in the city are ready and the biofuel will become available in all 24 districts on December 1.

During a meeting last week, the department's deputy director, Le Ngoc Dao, said several businesses began selling E5 a week earlier and consumers were receptive. Quang Ngai, which is home to the country's sole petroleum refinery and one of its three ethanol production plants, initiated the widespread sale on September 1st 2014.