"Bioethanol Blending Ratio in Gasoline Should Be Raised to At Least 5 Percent"

Many countries around the world blend bioethanol into petrol at specified ratios to reduce carbon emissions, lower fuel imports and support agricultural production. While this ratio stands at 2% in Turkey, Vedat Aydınoğlu, Deputy Chairman of the Bioethanol Producers Association, stated that this ratio should be increased to at least 5%.

Aydınoğlu emphasized that bioethanol plays a critical role in reducing fuel imports, saying, "By blending bioethanol at a 2% ratio into petrol, approximately USD 125 million in annual crude oil imports are prevented. In European Union countries, blending ratios range between 5% and 10%. Increasing this ratio in Turkey would both reduce energy imports and support agricultural production and employment."

Supports agricultural production, reduces carbon emissions
Bioethanol is produced from corn, sugar beets, sugar cane and various agricultural waste products. This environmentally-friendly fuel, which increases engine efficiency through its high octane value, reduces carbon emissions and harmful gas emissions when blended into petrol.

Aydınoğlu drew attention to bioethanol's both environmental and economic contributions, stating:
"In our country, bioethanol of agricultural origin is produced predominantly from corn and sugar beets. These products, harvested through the efforts of our farmers, are converted into bioethanol and blended into petrol. An average annual consumption of 150,000 cubic meters of petrol is replaced with bioethanol, providing significant foreign currency savings. Moreover, by-products generated during the production process are used in DDGS animal feed production, contributing to dairy and livestock farming."

"It is used everywhere in the world"
Aydınoğlu, noting that bioethanol has been widely used globally for a long time, shared the following information:

"Many countries promote bioethanol blending in order to reduce energy dependence, support agriculture and reduce carbon emissions. In European Union countries, this ratio is in the range of 5-10%, in corn-producing states in the United States it can reach 20%, and in Brazil it reaches as high as 27%. Thanks to its high octane value, bioethanol is not only an environmentally-friendly fuel but also a fuel additive that increases engine performance."

A strategic opportunity for Turkey
The Bioethanol Producers Association emphasizes that increasing the blending ratio is of strategic importance for Turkey in terms of energy supply security, foreign currency savings and sustainable agricultural policies.

Vedat Aydınoğlu concluded as follows:
"Bioethanol is a resource that evaluates our country's agricultural potential, reduces imports, is environmentally responsible and provides economic benefits. For this reason, we are calling for the blending ratio in petrol to be increased to at least 5%."