Australian state premier orders state workers to use ethanol blends in government cars

In Australia, New South Wales state premier Morris Iemma has ordered all state employees to use ethanol-blended fuel for government cars.

The state has mandated that ethanol make up 2 percent of all motor fuel sales in New South Wales effective October 1, and the government hopes to increase this mandate to 10 percent by 2011.

Earlier this month, New South Wales Regional Development Minister Tony Kelly called for expansion of the Manildra ethanol production plant at Nowra, to help the state to meet its ethanol mandates.

There are currently 100 BP outlets in New South Wales and Queensland that sell ethanol-blended Unleaded 91. BP said it would expand to more than 150 stations by early 2008. BP has sold 39 million gallons of ethanol in Australia, but said it had set a goal to sell 78 million gallons of ethanol in the second half of 2007.

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