Germany has reversed a decision on the compulsory bioethanol blending level in conventional petrol. It will not raise it to 10 percent from five.
Environmentalists have hailed the move, although it throws European plans on boosting biofuel for transport further into doubt.
Environment minister Sigmar Gabriel in Berlin said:
"Our policy does not want to be responsible for forcing millions of car drivers to expensive Super Plus petrol pumps."
This referred to the alternative choice drivers would have, as the higher ethanol mix might damage more than three million older cars. Gabriel acknowleged their owners probably did not have the money to pay for a new car.
Germany had seen biofuels blending as a way of reducing greenhouse gases, in line with EU targets.
The last thing Berlin wants to do is mess up a high performance car industry.
In any case, green groups question whether biofuels will deliver the carbon savings promised.
Hubert Weiger of BUND: "Agro-fuel is damaging the environment because it requires land which should be used to grow food. It is further intensifying farming, nationally and internationally. This way it damages rather than helps to protect the climate."
Deforestation and soil erosion are parts of this. The German biofuels industry association VDB welcomed the decision.
It urged Berlin to meet its greenhouse gas reduction targets by using seven percent diodiesel, which does not have the same technical problems as bioethanol.
http://www.euronews.net |
