Front page of the Sydney Morning Herald today. News And Features - Secrecy over car-rotting petrol additive. By Mike Seccombe. 716 words 11 December 2002 The Sydney Morning Herald
(c) 2002 John Fairfax Holdings Limited. Not available for re-distribution. Damning scientific evidence about the dangers to cars, their owners and the environment from ethanol-laced petrol is in a report being withheld by the Federal Government. Blends of 20 per cent ethanol, sold in about 200 outlets in NSW, cause corrosion of fuel system components, "potentially hazardous" fuel leaks and sharp increases in some pollutant emissions, the report shows. And while ethanol-blend fuels were slightly cheaper than pure petrol, a car would travel about 7 per cent less distance on a 20 per cent blend, resulting in poorer fuel economy. The Government received the report three weeks ago, yet continues to insist there is no scientific evidence to justify a legal limit on the amount of ethanol which can be blended, or even compulsory disclosure of ethanol levels in petrol. The study, commissioned by the Environment Department from the Orbital Engine Company and obtained by the Herald yesterday, reviews scientific research on the effects of high concentrations of ethanol. It says the additive can cause corrosion of metal parts leading to damage to carburettors, fuel pumps, lines and filters, and petrol tanks. It also causes perishing of plastic and increases emissions of nitrogen oxides and toxic aldehydes. The corrosion "becomes critical even before the corrosive action damages the part, as the particles of corrosion can plug small openings in the carburettor". Because of ethanol's solvent action, fuel lines can swell, soften, and lose strength. Plastic and fibre-reinforced parts of fuel systems can become cracked and leak, creating a potential fire or explosion hazard. It can also cause cold-starting problems, engine "knocking" and slower acceleration. Car makers, motoring and consumer organisations and the Petroleum Institute have lobbied for a year for a 10 per cent cap on ethanol. Makers will not honour warranties on vehicles run on higher concentrations. Cabinet documents leaked to the Opposition show that two government departments Environment and Agriculture, and Fisheries and Forestry are also pushing for a 10 per cent limit, at least pending further research. Most ethanol outlets are in the Sydney-Wollongong area. The NRMA's motoring and services chief, Rob Carter, yesterday demanded that the results of government sampling of petrol stations for tax purposes which identifies the type of fuel sold be released to enable motorists to decide where to fill up. "The Federal Government needs to tell the public now where petrol with high ethanol content is being sold," he said. "Instead of protecting motorists from unscrupulous operators, the Government has abandoned them at the petrol pump." Not only independent operators, but also some connected to major fuel companies had "deceived" motorists. "Only last week BP terminated contracts with four privately owned petrol stations for selling unlabelled contaminated fuel," Mr Carter said. "Currently no action can be taken against these operators because there is no legislation in place. Until the Government can confirm ethanol levels above 10 per cent are safe, a 10 per cent limit must be imposed." All interest groups want ethanol levels capped at 10 per cent, except one the Manildra group, which makes nearly all Australia's ethanol and markets it largely through independent service stations at concentrations of up to 20 per cent. Manildra is a major donor to the Liberal Party and its principal, Dick Honan, is a friend of the Prime Minister. Ethanol is only competitive with petrol because of a 38 cents-a-litre producer subsidy introduced at John Howard's behest in September. A spokeswoman for the Environment Minister, David Kemp, said the department was still considering the report. "It is a literature review, a summary of the existing evidence, and it concludes that in many areas there is insufficient or conflicting evidence indicating that a detailed testing program is warranted." THE STORY SO FAR Sept 2000 Government proposes 10 per cent limit on ethanol in petrol. May 2001 Environment Minister Robert Hill announces new fuel standards, but not for ethanol. Proposed limit disappears. Jan 2002 Study called into effects of ethanol Feb-Mar Car makers demand cap, saying blends above 10 per cent will void vehicle warranties. Sept 12 Government protects ethanol industry. Sept 20 Australian Petroleum Institute told PM would not agree to limits damaging to ethanol maker Manildra. More Like This Biofuels at Journey to Forever http://journeytoforever.org/biofuel.html Biofuel at WebConX http://webconx.green-trust.org/2000/biofuel/biofuel.htm List messages are archived at the Info-Archive at NNYTech: http://archive.nnytech.net/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
