China pushing for more ethanol in gas supply

While the Ningbo International Auto Expo is showcasing Hummers and Ferraris, China is also promoting ethanol-enriched gasoline in nine provinces. According to officials, China has established four bases of ethanol production with a capacity of 10.2 million tons of ethanol-enriched gasoline. About 20 percent of the country's annual gasoline consumption is ethanol-enriched.

North China is growing 4.27 million tons of maize to feed the ethanol plants. That's up 135 percent over 2003 production numbers. Northeast China produced 40.63 million tons, about 30 percent of the nation's total output. Not all went to ethanol production but China is resolved that the high price of petroleum is pressuring China to find substitute sources of oil.

[Source: China Daily]