Vietnam’s largest gasoline distributors to pilot E10 biofuel sale from August 1

Petrovietnam Oil Corporation (PVOIL) and the Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex) - the two largest petroleum distributors in Vietnam - will pilot the sale of E10 biofuel starting from August 1.

According to PVOIL, a subsidiary of state-owned Petrovietnam, the company will pilot the sale of E10 RON95 bio-gasoline at fuel stations in the northern cities of Hanoi and Hai Phong.

After the trial phase, it will continue to upgrade, convert, and expand its E10 biofuel distribution points, and will be ready to implement the roadmap for E10 use from January 1, 2026.

Cao Hoai Duong, chairman of PVOIL, stated that the company has long invested in biofuel blending facilities at its depots, including both primary and transit depots. PVOIL’s decision to pilot the sale of E10 from August 1 is intended to help customers gradually become familiar with this new type of fuel, thereby avoiding a "shock" during the transition process, he said.

Currently, regarding its blending system, PVOIL said it is upgrading and renovating existing E5 RON92 blending stations at strategic depot locations nationwide to meet the demand for E10 RON95.

The corporation is also strengthening coordination with other subsidiaries of Petrovietnam, such as Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical JSC (BSR) and Nghi Son Refinery Distribution Branch (PVNDB), to ensure sufficient production of mineral fuels, while also securing a stable supply of ethanol (E100), optimizing costs, and ensuring output meets market demand.

PVOIL is operating 900 fuel stations across the country. The company emphasized that it has prepared a plan to comprehensively roll out E10 biofuel sale across its entire system as soon as the official implementation roadmap takes effect, he said.

Similarly, Petrolimex aims to pilot the sale of E10 biofuel at its 36 stations in the pre-merger areas of Ho Chi Minh City starting August 1, according to member of the board of directors and deputy general director Tran Ngoc Nam.

The pilot rollout aims to assess consumer acceptance and the technical readiness of Petrolimex’s distribution network, serving as a foundation for potential nationwide expansion, he said.

The group has proposed the Ministry of Industry and Trade issue early directions regarding the implementation timeline, allowing key fuel distributors to proactively invest and upgrade their technical systems.

Petrolimex said on is website that it currently has 43 subsidiaries directly engaged in petroleum trading, with a distribution network spanning 34 provinces and cities. Out of more than 17,000 fuel stations nationwide, the Petrolimex network owns over 5,500 stations.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is currently developing a roadmap for the nationwide adoption of E10, scheduled to begin on January 1, 2026. This move aligns with the government’s effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fulfil its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Under national technical regulation QCVN 01:2022/BKHCN, E10 is a finished gasoline product blended with 9-10% bioethanol by volume. In addition to reducing dependence on fossil fuels, E10 offers environmental advantages and improved engine performance.

Studies conducted both domestically and internationally show that ethanol has high oxygen content, which helps improve the combustion process of the fuel mixture.

Therefore, E10 can reduce carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrocarbon (HC) emissions compared to traditional mineral gasoline, which means reducing the risk of air pollution and the greenhouse effect - one of the main causes of global climate change.

E10 is also considered engine-friendly. Studies confirm that E10 is compatible with most gasoline engines, including older models.

More than 60 countries have already adopted E10 fuel. In the U.S. and Europe, the use of biofuel blends is mandated by law. Since 2018, Asian countries like China and the Philippines have fully switched to E10, banning retail sales of unblended fossil gasoline.