Bolivia will increase the proportion of ethanol in petrol from 12 to 18 per cent. From 1 November 2026, it will stand at 15 per cent, rising to 18 per cent by April 2027. To this end, the government has reached an agreement with local sugarcane producers on ethanol supplies, said Marcelo Blanco, Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy. This was reported by Visión 360, a partner of TV BRICS.
Ethanol is an alcohol that can be produced from sugarcane. It is added to petrol to partially replace petroleum-based fuel. Adding ethanol also helps to increase the octane rating of petrol and improve its performance.
“Every litre of ethanol produced in the country means we can avoid importing one litre of petrol,” noted Klaus Frerking, president of the Eastern Agricultural Chamber (CAO) of Bolivia.
The agreement will help support local farmers and develop ethanol production in the country. As a result, Bolivia will be able to reduce petrol imports and channel additional funds into the development of domestic production.