Argentina Plans to Mandate 3% Ethanol Blend Next Year

NEW YORK (DTN) -- Argentina will begin blending 3 percent ethanol into gasoline used for transportation starting Jan. 1, according to Roberto Salafia, a commercial attache at the country's embassy in Washington, D.C.

The details of the plan were not immediately available, but Salafia confirmed reports that his country plans on imposing a blending requirement for both gasoline and diesel.

He said Argentina already exports biodiesel, so the requirement for mandatory use of biodiesel won't be a problem.

According to reports, Julio De Vido, a key energy adviser to Argentinean President Cristina Fernadez de Kirchner, on Monday announced the rollout of the 3 percent ethanol blend, which has been discussed for a while. The mandate is part of an effort to diversify energy sources.

Argentina joins Jamaica in recently mandating biofuels, with Jamaica imposing a 10 percent ethanol blend requirement in November. Meanwhile, last week, China lowered import tariffs on biofuels.

George Orwel can be reached at george.orwel@dtn.com