Rasbert Turner, Sunday Gleaner Writer

Jeremy Barnes, general manager of Portmore Parkway Petcom Service Station, fills a customer's tank with the new E10 fuel at the Petcom customer appreciation day and ceremonial turning on of the E10 pump at the service station yesterday. Looking on (from left) are Alphanso Chambers, sales and marketing manager of Petcom, Minister of Energy Clive Mullings and Trevor Barnes, president of the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers' Association. - Peta-Gaye Clachar/Staff Photographer

Spanish Town:

ENERGY MINISTER Clive Mullings yesterday launched E10 gasolene, indicating there is a 60 per cent duty concession on the importation of flexi motor vehicles that consume ethanol-blended fuel.

The E10 blend is so called because it comprises 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent gasolene. Ethanol is an additive that can be produced from sugar cane and corn.

"There are great advantages in buying the vehicles that are E10 friendly. It is cheaper, clears the engine, gives off cleaner emission, plus the 60 per cent concession," Mullings told The Sunday Gleaner. "It is the way to go."

Mullings was the keynote speaker at the launch of E10 at the Portmore Parkway Petcom Service Station in St Catherine yesterday.

Come on-board

He said that Petcom Service Stations have taken the lead in the popularisation of E10 by buying 68,000 litres of the fuel from the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica. He implored other gasolene retailers and distri-butors to come on-board to support the initiative, which is intended to significantly reduce the country's oil-import bill.

With the 60 per cent duty concessions on the purchase of flexi motor vehicles, the energy minister implored consumers to acquire them, thereby facilitating the country's ultimate move to using E85 - the highest level of ethanol-blended gasolene.

More compliant by april

The Sunday Gleaner understands that by April next year, the country will be more compliant with ethanol usage.

Several persons attending yesterday's launch said the new programme will work well as E10 is $2.03 cheaper than gasolene.

"Yes, the ethanol made the car drive better when I used it yesterday," reported Wayne Malcolm a taxi driver. "I really want to make some more money now. We have to work with it and see," he added.

Representatives of the Portmore Municipal Council and the Jamaica Gasolene Retailers' Association also spoke at yesterday's launch.