North Queensland Register (Australia): Shell releases ethanol blended fuel: “The executive director of Renewable Fuels Australia, Bob Gordon, said, “The blending of ethanol with petrol provides Shell, and other major oil companies in Australia, with a low cost option for reducing cancer causing toxins in petrol…”: Posted Friday 25 November 2005

By MATT WARD

OPTIMAX Extreme, a blended fuel with five percent ethanol, was launched on Wednesday last week by Shell at over 30 Coles Express service stations in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, and is included in the discount scheme for supermarket shoppers.

The petroleum company was able to substantially lower sulphur and benzene levels as well as achieve a minimum octane rating of 100, the highest currently available at any Australian service station.

Shell claim the new fuel is octane-boosting, cleaner burning, and designed to deliver a higher level of engine responsiveness, sharper acceleration and enhanced power in many modern high performance cars.

The fuel has been tested in the UK and Australia by industry experts including MoTec and Dick Johnson Racing. Optimax is manufactured at Shell’s Geelong refinery.

The executive director of Renewable Fuels Australia, Bob Gordon, said, “The blending of ethanol with petrol provides Shell, and other major oil companies in Australia, with a low cost option for reducing cancer causing toxins in petrol such as benzine, and in reducing the sulphur content in Australian transport fuels.

"It is an important step in bringing Shell Australia into line with the very positive position of its global parent company towards renewable fuels in Europe, and in countries such as the United States.”    

Click here for ShellNews.net HOME PAGE