A motorcylist has his vehicle filled with E5 bio-fuel in Quang Ngai province (Photo VNA)Hanoi (VNA) - Many motorbike owners are still unsure if the new E5fuel being sold nationwide suits their vehicles, and authorities need toimprove public awareness accordingly, officials admit.
They say that this task is incumbent upon the Ministry of Trade and Industry,local departments and related agencies.
E5 fuel is a mix of A92 petrol (95 percent) and biofuel ethanol (5 percent).
Since it went on sale on January 1, replacing RON92 petrol, the biofuel mix hasfailed to attract expected attention from local drivers, although it is acheaper alternative.
The retail selling price of E5 biofuel is about 2,000 VND (8.9 US cents) perlitre cheaper than that of RON92 petrol at 18,243 VND.
Meanwhile, the retail selling price of RON95 petrol has been increased by 760-810VND per litre to more than 20,690 VND.
However, since many people are still unsure, they have opted to buy the more expensiveA95 petrol.
Tran Vu Thien Thanh of HCM City’s District 4 said she was used to buying RON92. Since it is not available, she was spending more money on A95 because shewas not sure if the new E5 biofuel would suit her old motorbike.
Le Minh Tuan of HCM City’s Phu Nhuan district said there was little informationabout E5 and people were still waiting to know which vehicles could use thefuel.
Even the staff at petrol stations had little information to convey, expectsaying it was more environmentally friendly.
The Department of Industry and Trade of HCM City said it has taken steps toencourage people to use E5.
Department spokesman Vo Le Bich Dong said they would cooperate with theMinistry of Information and Communications as well as the media to improveawareness of E5. He noted that traders thought that they should be giventax exemptions for selling the fuel.
In HCM City, all 534 petrol stations have stopped selling RON 92, replacing itwith the E5 fuel.
Phan Thi Viet Thu, Vice Chairwoman of the HCM City Consumers ProtectionAssociation, said the authorities should provide information to customers on E5standards, quality and benefits. They should also enhance inspections andmonitoring of E5 quality, she said.
The trade ministry has asked departments of industry and trade to step up supervisionof petrol traders, distributors, wholesalers and petrol stations.
Deputy Trade Minister Hoang Quoc Vuong has directed localities and agencies tostrictly punish those still selling RON 92.
According to PetroVietnam Oil Corporation (PV Oil), the sale of E5 at itsstations reached 600-650cu.m per day, accounting for 70 percent of its totalpetrol sales.
PVOil said that all of its stations have replaced RON 92 with E5 bio-fuelsince the beginning of the year.
The corporation has 11 E5 mixing stations that are operating well and isinvesting in other such facilities. It has ensured stable supply of E5 to itsretail network of 540 petrol fuel stations and more than 3,000 agencies.-VNA
VNA
