The board of Brazil's hydrocarbon regulator ANP approved unanimously on Friday an amendment that raises the research octane number (Ron) of gasoline to 94 from 93 and settles other specifications.
The decision comes just over a month after a mandate increasing the anhydrous ethanol blend in fossil gasoline — to 30pc from 27pc — came into effect.
The decision also maintains the minimum specific mass values for unblended gasoline at 688.9 kg/m³ (1.52 lb/l) at 20ºC (68°F) for E30.
The changes meet national energy policy council CNPE's objective of guaranteeing consumers access to the positive effects of the new blend, by providing the advantages of a higher octane fuel while avoiding any loss of quality, ANP said.
As anhydrous ethanol has a Ron of around 109, the increase to E30 could — if the Ron 93 requirement for blended gasoline was maintained — open space for "poorer" unblended gasoline with a lower octane rating.
The octane rating for blended gasoline measures the fuel's ability to resist igniting in an air-fuel mixture when subjected to extreme pressure and temperature. The higher the indicator, the better the engine performance.
As ethanol also has higher mass properties and lower energy potential compared to gasoline, maintaining E27's mass specifications for E30 fuel could also open up the possibility of using unblended gasoline with lower mass under the new blending mandate.
To ensure the quality of the product offered to the final consumer, ANP decided to update the table of minimum specific mass values, repeating the requirement of 688.9 kg/m³ for unblended gasoline for E30. The parameter for the mass of blended gasoline, on the other hand, remained at 715 kg/m³, mainly because of limited time to discuss new levels for the final product with market participants.
The shift was made after a fast-tracked public consultation that lasted just five days, receiving 24 contributions from 13 different stakeholders, including companies, associations and government institutions. A public hearing was also held via videoconference to discuss the potential impacts of the changes proposed by ANP.
The two points regarding octane rating and specific mass were already included in the draft resolution shared by the agency with market participants. But two additional suggestions made during the consultation were incorporated: one establishing transition periods for adapting to the new rules; and another allowing the use of alternative methodologies for verifying the anhydrous ethanol content in C gasoline, which is already blended and sold to the final consumer.
Enforcement actions for non-compliance with the new blends can only begin after a grace period every time the legislation changes the required anhydrous ethanol content in gasoline, according to the text approved by ANP's directors. For fuel distributors, the deadline is 30 days in the north and 15 days in other areas. For retail sales, it is 60 days in the north and 15 days in the rest of the country.
To take effect, the resolution still needs to be published in the federal official gazette.
