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 Seaoil Philippines Inc. who participated in the PetrolWorld Langkawi
Business Forum, remains positive about the prospects of its E-85
gasoline blend (85% ethanol) but admitted that it will take a long time
before it gets to the market since there are still standards to be set.
Photo: Francis Glenn Yu , President, SeaOil
Philippines, pictured at the recent PetrolWorld Langkawi Business
Meeting Programme.
PetrolWorld March 2009
Seaoil Vice-President for Supply Bernadette F. Raymundo said Seaoil is
currently testing E-85 on vehicles with manufacturing dates as far back
as 1997. "The Energy department has required us to test vehicles up to
100,000 kilometers and note what is the condition of the vehicle, so we
can come up with standards," Ms. Raymundo told reporters.
However, it may take more than five years to complete the task since
some cars take five years of use just to reach the 50,000 kilometer
mark, Ms. Raymundo admitted. She noted that using E-85 is not new as
this is already used in the United States, Sweden, New Zealand, Brazil,
Australia and Thailand.
She said that based on their studies E-85 is suitable for the Filipino
market. Ms. Raymundo said that consumers will realize greater savings
once they patronize higher blends of biofuel. Aside from monetary
considerations, Seaoil noted that use of such biofuels can lower a
car’s emission of greenhouse gasses and the car could run better due to
the fuel’s higher octane rating.
Seaoil Philippines plans to open over 50 new stations this year.
It currently has a network of 144, the company said. Its
objective is to increase the network to 200. “We are aggressively
increasing the number of our retail stations as part of the company’s
goal to become one of the more competitive players in the market,”
Seaoil president and chief executive Glenn Yu said in a statement.
PetrolWorld 130309
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