He ethanol It is a clear, colorless liquid, also known as ethyl alcoholaccording to the United States Department of Energy. It can be produced from raw materials rich in starch or sugar, such as corn and the sugarcaneas well as cellulosic materials, including agricultural waste or wood chips.
In Guatemala, ethanol is commonly known as alcohol. However, the fuel ethanol used to make fuels has different characteristics than alcohol for medicinal or domestic use.
According to the Association for the Promotion of Renewable Fuels (ACR Guatemala)ethanol intended to be mixed with gasoline must be dehydratedthat is, free of water, so medicinal or pharmacy alcohol should not be used to mix with fuelsince it has a different composition.
What does E10 mean?
The term E10 identifies a fuel composed of 90% gasoline and 10% fuel ethanolas explained by the official site E10.gob.gt.
This mixture is already used in numerous countries and seeks to reduce the environmental impact of transportation without requiring modifications to most gasoline vehicles.
The main objective of E10 in Guatemala
Although some consumers hoped that the addition of ethanol would reduce the price of fuel, authorities have indicated that the main purpose of the measure is environmental.
In June the vice minister of Energy and Mines, Erwin Barrios, who took over as MEM minister on July 2, explained that the implementation of the E10 aims to reduce dependence on fuels derived from petroleum, diversify the energy matrix and reduce polluting emissions generated by the vehicle fleet.
In addition, he indicated that ethanol replaces additives such as MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), used to increase the octane rating of gasoline and whose use has been restricted or prohibited in several countries due to its possible effects on the environment and health.
A measure that took more than 30 years to come to fruition
In Guatemala, the incorporation of ethanol to gasoline is not a recent initiative. Its origin dates back to Fuel Alcohol Lawapproved in 1985with the purpose of promoting the use of renewable fuels in Guatemala.
RELATED READINGS
The regulations began to materialize with the issuance of the Government Agreement 159-2023which established the obligation to incorporate a 10% ethanol in gasoline sold in the country.
E10 gasoline will arrive on August 21
Initially, the entry into force of the measure was scheduled for January 2025but it was postponed so that service stations could adapt their infrastructure.
The date was later moved to June 30, 2026. However, weeks before its implementation, the Ministry of Energy and Mines changed the calendar again.
He 4th of julythe portfolio reported that the mixture will begin to be marketed at starting from August 20date on which fuel retailers must offer the final consumer the E10 gasoline.
Then, Erwin Barriosconfirmed that from that date Guatemalans will be able to purchase gasoline mixed with 10% ethanol at service stations in the country.