200 SERVICE STATIONS MAKE THE SWITCH TO SWEETER FUELS

Queensland motorists now have more than 200 reasons to test-drive cleaner, greener fuels when hitting the road this Easter, Premier Peter Beattie said today.

Mr Beattie said the State’s emerging ethanol industry had reached a major milestone, with more than 200 SmartState service stations now providing motorists with the choice of using renewable ethanol blended fuels.

“There has been a five-fold increase in the number of services stations supplying ethanol blended fuels since the Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan was launched in November 2005,” Mr Beattie said.

“Together, the 200 +e fuel stations now represent 16 per cent of the 1,300 service stations currently in Queensland.

“City dwellers have the greatest opportunity to purchase +e fuels with 60 per cent of the total +e service stations located in the Brisbane, Gold Coast, SunshineCoast regions.

“The Darling Downs, a leading grain growing area, has the next highest penetration of +e fuels, with 13 per cent of service stations offering a renewable ethanol alternative to customers.

“The recent Queensland Ethanol Conversion Initiative grant to Tropic Distributors Pty Ltd, a major fuel distributor for Caltex in North Queensland, also means the +e footprint may extend beyond North Queensland to as far as Cooktown and Mt Isa.

“Through the Government’s $7.3 million Queensland Ethanol Industry Action Plan 2005-2007, $4.8 million has been allocated to the Queensland Ethanol Conversion Initiative to enable independent and major retailers make ethanol blended fuels more accessible to motorists.

“The initiative has been important in assisting fuel distributors overcome the additional expense incurred for blending infrastructure, storage facilities and transport of ethanol blended fuel,” he said.

State Development Minister John Mickel said the benefits of using ethanol blended fuels were also being promoted to Queensland motorists through the ongoing +e marketing campaign, which aims to educate motorists about the benefits of using renewable fuels.

“The ‘+e Ethanol Powered by Nature’ campaign aims to increase consumption of safe, renewable ethanol blended fuel in Queensland by informing and educating motorists,” Mr Mickel said.

“Independent research commissioned by the Beattie Government shows that attitudes towards ethanol blended fuel are changing. 42 per cent of survey respondents are regularly fuelling up on ethanol blended fuel and most who try the fuel use it more than once.

“60 per cent of Queenslanders also recognise the environmental benefits from using ethanol blended fuel, which is made from sugar cane or grains such as sorghum or wheat.”

Mr Mickel called on Queensland’s motorists to help drive this growth by filling up with ethanol blended fuel.

“+e fuels are now available at 200 service stations across the State and I encourage every motorist to get out there and fill up their tank with ethanol blended fuel whenever possible.”

Motorists are encouraged to check their vehicle’s compatibility with ethanol blended fuel by contacting their manufacturer or visiting the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries website www.fcai.com.au/ethanol

For a list of Queensland service stations retailing ethanol blended fuel visit the ‘+e Ethanol Powered by Nature’ website at www.ethanol.qld.gov.au.

ENDS

Media contact: 3224 4500

Elouise Campion 3224 6784