26 August 2013, Addis Ababa – Over 8.6 million litres of ethanol has been blended with benzene and supplied to local market over the concluded fiscal year, the Ministry of Mines and Energy said.
According to Bizuneh Tolcha, public relations and communication director with the Ministry, the intervention has enabled the nation to save $7.6 million.
The government envisages to blend 64.4 million litres of ethanol with benzene and to increase the current 10 percent ethanol content to 25 percent at the end of the Growth and Transformation Plan period.
Since it commenced blending benzene with ethanol in 2009, the country has supplied 39.2 million litres of ethanol blended benzene to the local market thereby saving $30.9 million.
Currently, Nile, Oil Libya and National Oil Company Plc, NOC, are blending benzene with ethanol supplied by Metehara and Fincha sugar factories.
– Ethiopia Radio and Television agency
