The UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on British Bioethanol has published a report calling for the ‘swift’ introduction of E10 ethanol fuel.
The report was triggered by an inquiry earlier this year into the Department for Transport’s failure to publish promptly the results of its 2018 consultation on the introduction of E10 into the UK’s fuel supply chain. Nic Dakin, the Chair of the APPG, said: “Through this inquiry, we have sought to surface and explore the facts – taking written and oral evidence from the widest possible range of stakeholders from fuel producers and farmers – in order to identify concerns which stand in the way of introducing E10 in the UK. While the Department for Transport was invited to contribute to the work of this inquiry via written or oral evidence, they declined to do so, which is regrettable.”
The UK bioethanol report draws on evidence provided by stakeholders in the British, French and Belgian bioethanol industries. The APPG’s findings include:
- If E10 fuel is not introduced UK-wide by 2020 at the latest, the UK risks losing its bioethanol industry, worth £1bn (€1.11bn), which the report describes as ‘vital and valuable’;
- Introducing E10 as a mainstream fuel option would facilitate the UK’s progress on its stated target of becoming carbon neutral by 2050; and
- The Secretary of State for Transport should as a matter of urgency arrange a summit on the future of the bioethanol industry in the UK.
Dakin added: “While Brexit undoubtedly continues to preoccupy much of the Department [for Transport]’s time, as it does with many other Departments, this should not be at the expense of progressing vitally important policy. Indeed, policy that the Department itself has committed to prioritise. Nonetheless, I hope the Department now takes heed of the findings and recommendations in this Final Report, and the collective efforts of this Group and those who has contributed to our work, will help progress discussions and dislodge a positive decision on this issue by the Department in the very near future, facilitating the managed introduction of this cleaner, greener fuel by 2020 at the latest: a development which members of this APPG as well as its Chair believe is a ‘no brainer’.”
