Saturday, 23/11/2024 | 10:58 GMT+7
German Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen (C) arrives for a crisis meeting on biofuel Super E10 as German federal government meets with the chiefs of the oil industry for talks on why German motorists are refusing to fill their cars with a new ‘eco-friendly’ petrol, Berlin, Germany.
Following a meeting in a fuel summit on 9 March, representatives of the German government, as well as agriculture, fuel and auto industries agreed on several measures to educate and inform consumers about the biofuel E10, according to press reports.
Despite a difficult start, Germany will continue to introduce E10 as a new
fuel. The German government said after crisis talks on 8 March it was sticking
with the E10 fuel despite major problems since the petrol was introduced at
German filling stations last month.
“We need to reduce our dependency on oil,” Environment Minister Norbert Rottgen
said after the meeting with oil company representatives, automakers and
drivers’ associations in Berlin. Rottgen rejected demands to suspend the
introduction of the fuel, which has flopped in Germany, despite a successful
reception in France last year. “All those involved in the meeting are in favor
of E10 in order to protect the climate, to safeguard the environment, to
preserve natural resources and for greater energy security,” he said. Rottgen
also implied that E10, which has a 10% biofuel content, was the way out of
environmental and political disaster:
“We were all witnesses ... to the oil catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico,” he
said, adding, “Every day we see (Libyan leader) Gadhafi persecuting and
bombarding his own people. Do we want to keep buying oil in order to finance
states and regimes like that?”
Meanwhile, following the fuel summit on 9 March, CropEnergies, a European
ethanol producer, released a statement applauding the outcome of the fuel
meeting. “The commitment of all stakeholders for the introduction of E10 in
Germany and the proposals to inform consumers better is an important step,”
said Lutz Guderjahn, board member. “It shows that the Germany policymakers and
the Germany industry profess to clear their own climate protection goals and
objectives of the EU and pursue this further.”
The industry association representing European ethanol producers, ePURE, also
welcomed the news. It reaffirms Germany’s commitment to E10 and its goals for a
more sustainable transport future in Europe, said Rob Vierhout, secretary
general.
Germany’s problems with E10 have been caused by consumer confusion, Guderjahn
said. There was a failure to inform customers about E10 in advance and a lot of
misinformation has been circulating, including a widespread rumor that the
introduction of E10 would be stopped. “All parties must now work together to
fully inform consumers as quickly as possible,” he said.
Vierhout agreed, adding that it is unfortunate there has been so much confusion
and uncertainty about E10. “Consumers have simply not had sufficient
information,” he said. “This has been exacerbated by misinformation from those
who are opposed to biofuels.”
In order for a “successful and user-friendly” introduction of E10, the groups
that met at the fuel summit agreed on a list of responsibilities moving forward.
For example, it was determined that since gas stations are where consumers have
access to the fuel, the oil companies must immediately offer information to its
customers about what vehicles are compatible with the fuel. In addition, it was
stated that the oil industry and automobile sector would continue to ramp up
promoting “Super E10” to the public as well as creating an E10 website.
Finally, vehicle manufacturers and the German Federation for Motor Trades will
offer dealer workshops in March and April to help them provide information about
E10 to their customers during regular maintenance visits.
On the environmental side, the agricultural and biofuel industries were listed
as having the responsibility to provide information to consumers about the
benefits of ethanol. The Federal Government is also stepping in to provide
information about how E10 contributes to environmental and climate protection
and resource conservation as well as developing sustainability criteria. “E10
makes an important contribution to environmental and climate protection and
resource conservation and energy security,” according to a document developed
during the fuel summit.
E10 was successfully introduced in France and Sweden in the past several years,
Vierhout pointed out. In addition, 93% of gasoline-powered vehicles in the
German market and 99% of new cars are compatible with E10. “European-produced
E10 is a renewable energy source that is vital in the fight against climate
change by reducing carbon emissions in the transport sector; contributes
towards domestic energy security in Europe by decreasing our dependence on
foreign oil imports, and creates thousands of jobs in Germany and elsewhere in
Europe,” he said.
neurope.eu