Guatemala delays 10% ethanol gasoline blend amid quality tests

Guatemala's Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) has announced that the planned introduction of gasoline blended with 10% ethanol, known as E10, will not proceed as scheduled on August 21. The ministry stated that technical and operational tests are currently being conducted to guarantee the quality of the fuel before it reaches consumers.

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the mandatory 10% ethanol blend with gasolines has not yet begun in Guatemala and its implementation continues to be scheduled for August 21.

Guillermo Xoy, deputy director of Hydrocarbons Commercialization at the MEM, explained that the delay is due to a necessary preparation period. This phase involves calibrating mixing equipment, verifying storage tanks, conducting operational tests, and checking for leaks. The goal is to ensure that both premium and regular gasoline maintain their quality standards after the ethanol blend.

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currently the MEM and the companies involved are developing a testing phase to ensure that the fuel maintains the same quality that users receive.

Xoy emphasized that no gas stations are currently selling E10. Instead, they are cleaning their tanks, while transporters are inspecting their vehicles and import terminals are preparing systems for the 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol mixture. These mixing operations will be exclusively handled at import terminals on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.

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no service station dispenses gasoline mixed with ethanol.

The E10 program has received support from both the U.S. Embassy and the Coordinating Committee of Agricultural, Commercial, Industrial, and Financial Associations (Cacif). The U.S. Embassy views the program as an opportunity to increase demand for American-produced ethanol, while Cacif sees it as a way to strengthen trade relations between Guatemala and the United States through a technical and responsible approach.

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the calibration is carried out in the import terminals located on the Pacific and Atlantic, which will be the only ones authorized to carry out the mixture before distributing the fuel to the service stations.