Petrolimex and PVOil start nationwide distribution of E5 gasoline

Viet Nam National Petroleum Corporation (Petrolimex) and PetroVietnam Oil Corporation (PVOil) officially began supplying five percent ethanol-blended gasoline (E5) with a research octane number of 92 (RON 92) nationwide last Friday, 15 days before the government’s deadline.

Petrolimex is Vietnam’s largest fuel importer and distributor and PVOil is the country’s second largest petrol dealer.

Petrolimex said it has ethanol blending facilities in place in Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang, HCM City and Can Tho. Next year, Petrolimex said it will add blending facilities in Binh Dinh and Nghe An, raising its total ethanol blending capacity to 1.8 million cubic meters per year.

PVOil General Director Cao Hoai Duong said the company has upgraded and expanded its storage system and currently operates 11 ethanol-blending stations nationwide.

By January 2018, the government will no longer allow the sale of RON 92 gasoline without five percent ethanol blend. The government said the move aims to boost domestic consumption of the environmentally friendly E5. Vietnam wants to to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, ensure energy security and implement its commitment to lower its greenhouse gas emissions.

Last year, the government announced plans to completely replace all RON 92 gasoline with E5 by mid-2017 in eight provinces and cities, but the implementation was delayed to January 2018 due to lack of interest from consumers.