Comment on the proposed Standard for Fuel Parameters (Ethannol) Commonwealth position

Comment on the proposed Standard for Fuel Parameters (Ethanol) Commonwealth Position - April 2005 Renewable Fuels Australia The Report prepared by the Hart Downstream Energy Services provides a general survey of the fuel quality standards ethanol is produced to meet around the world. It does not, however, provide a comprehensive survey of the use of ethanol either in dedicated or flexible vehicles, or in the form of E10. Nor does it effectively address the rapid developments in flexible fuels vehicle technologies. The ethanol standard observed by current ethanol producers (mainly CSR and Manildra) is the U.S. ASTM D4806. In the case of Manildra a corrosion inhibitor (DCI 11, produced by Octel) is also added. This is also the practice followed by the U.S. industry. It is anticipated that new industry entrants will also follow the ASTM D4806 standard with a corrosion inhibitor, although this may not be required should fuel ethanol be sold directly to the major oil companies and added with petrol as part of the refinery process. Currently CSR Sugars produce and sell fuel ethanol that meets the higher British Pharmacopoeia (pharmaceutical) Standard (BPS. This is because the dehydration and purification of the hydrous ethanol they produce at Sarina (near Mackay) in Queensland is currently undertaken at Yarraville in Victoria using an older technology cyclohexane process focussed on the demands of the pharmaceutical market - not transport fuel. ...