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Workshop: Additives in Gasoline and Economic Characterization and Eco-Efficiencies of other Alternatives (Ethanol) - April 29 - May 2, 2014

The Department of Sustainable Development of the Organization of American States (OAS/DSD) carried out the workshop titled “Additives in Gasoline and Economic Characterization and Eco-Efficiencies of other Alternatives (Ethanol)” in Guatemala City, Guatemala, from April 29 to May 2, 2014. This is an activity supported under the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the United States of America to advance cooperation on biofuels.

The workshop focused on the toxic additives used in Guatemala (MTBE and MTT) that can be replaced with ethanol. The negative impact of MTT over the vehicles (catalytic is damaged by MTT), the negative impact of MTBE and MTT over the environment (water toxic pollution) and the air particles pollution in Guatemala City generated by the low quality in the national fuels were discussed. The need to develop appropriate measurements over gasoline and ethanol samples in order to implement tailored standards and appropriate policy framework was also exposed.

During the meeting, all parties recognized that this transition to ethanol fuel is the future for the transport sector and can only be materialized through collaboration between all stakeholders.

In the framework of this event, other meetings were made with the Vice –Minister of Public Health, the Vice –Minister of Hydrocarbons, the Vice –Minister of Natural Resources and their technical staff, and it was concluded that there is a need to speed up the collaboration of activities to be implemented under this Pilot Project. It is urgent to replace MTT as oxygenate for a suitable alternative and the Government authorities looked with good eyes the use of ethanol as a replacement. The identification of collaborative efforts under the US-Brazil MOU program between the OAS/DSD and the Government of Guatemala is a way to mitigate climate change and support the deployment of renewable energy technologies.

The Energy and Fuel Commission of the Congress is willing to derogate the law 17/85, which is the current obstacle to commercially use ethanol in Guatemala.