Refiner Ends Use of Fuel Additive, Warns Prices May possibly Rise Motor, Sep 2005 by Nash, Tom
Motorists could experience even increased gasoline prices-perhaps up to nine cents a gallon more-if other refiners keep to the lead of Valero Electricity in quickly withdrawing a controversial fuel additive.
One of your nation's greatest refiners, Valero made a decision in early August to quit generating and blending the additive MTBE in gasoline. MTBE, a petroleum-based oxygenate created to cut back air pollution,
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The firm explained it took the action simply because refiners did not acquire liability protection regarding the additive from the energy bill handed recently by Congress. Valero's production of gasoline for your U.S. market could drop by two.five million gallons every day,
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If other refiners adhere to its lead, Valero mentioned, the market could shed a whole of about ten.9 million gallons of gas each day. It could get about a 12 months to restore even half from the lost capability, a Valero spokesperson said.
Seth Kleinman, market place analyst for expert PFC Energy, explained the MBTE problem is "throwing fuel within the fire" of soaring fuel rates,
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The switch would complicate not only refineries on this region,
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According to Valero, when New york banned the additive very last yr, the price distinction amongst standard gas as well as the reformulated fuel was only 2 cents. Now it can be eleven cents. But Valeros motion could prove a shock for the system.
"It's obvious costs are going to go up," said Ed Murphy, advertising and marketing director for your American Petroleum Institute,
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