Biofuel scepticism prompts German summit

Fears of petrol shortages as consumers reject biofuels in favour of standard petrol
Biofuel E10
Takeup of biofuel E10 is slipping to the extent that the German government fears a full-scale petrol shortage. Photograph: David Ebener/EPA

The German government has called an emergency fuel summit for Tuesday to try to prevent a consumer backlash against biofuels from snowballing into a full-scale petrol shortage.

Growing scepticism about the new biofuel mix, known as E10, has resulted in consumers queuing up for standard petrol, leading to supply shortages in a market already spooked by the turmoil in the Middle East.

BP, the main producer of E10 in Germany, has decided to delay production of the fuel at its two largest German refineries, but risks penalties if it does not meet the new biofuel quota set by the government. Petrol stations have run dangerously low of standard fuels because they have switched some of their forecourt reserves to E10, which has been available in Germany since the new year.

E10 petrol contains a maximum 10% bioethanol, 5% more than standard Super Plus. Up to 4m cars in Germany cannot run on the new biofuel, 7% of all cars on Germany's roads. Experts blame manufacturers for a lack of information. "The car industry has been sloppy," said Lutz Mez, an environment expert at Berlin's Free University. "Taxi drivers don't know what's going on. If they don't get it, how will anyone else?" he said.

Germany's environment minister, Norbert Röttgen, said the government would not retreat on the E10 rollout. Some members of the junior coalition FDP party argue that Germany should hold off E10 production. "Consumers need clarity and security first," said FDP MP, Patrick Döring.

According to the Green party, Germany needs to take a closer look at its car culture. "The E10 concept has failed," said Cem Özdemir, the party leader. "It's not just a communication catastrophe," he said. "We need cars that run on less petrol, speed limits on motorways and more investment in electric cars."

BMW, one of the country's biggest car makers, rejected criticism that it sent out mixed messages. "Our dealers were informed, and our hotline and website had all the information," BMW spokesman Bernhard Ederer said. He confirmed that all BMW's cars can run on E10.

BP also refuses to bear the brunt of the blame and told the Guardian it was completely committed to E10. "It was imposed on us by the government to ensure a lower carbon future," a BP spokesman said.

"It's in our interests that E10 becomes the main fuel in Germany. We are doing everything we can."

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