China has gained a yearly output of bio-ethanol gasoline of 10.2 million tons, accounting for 20 percent of its overall gasoline consumption, Thursday's Shanghai Securities News reported, quoting the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

 

China has unfolded a trial use of bio-ethanol gasoline, a mixture of 10 percent ethanol and 90 percent gasoline, in five provinces and 27 cities.

 

Up to now, four provinces including northeastern Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces, and central Henan Province have extended bio-ethanol gasoline province-wide.

 

According to its plan for the coming five years, China will build four major manufacturers of bio-ethanol with yield capacity of about one million tons one year, listed third after Brazil and the United States in the world, the paper said.

 

China first began trial use of fuel ethanol on June 30, 2002, in three cities in Henan Province, central China, and some cities in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China.

 

An official with the commission said the trial use proves the fuel ethanol is suitable for use in China with social and environmental benefits.

 

The use of fuel ethanol is a strategic move taken by the Chinese government to promote sustainable economic and social development and environmental protection.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 2, 2006)