COPENHAGEN (AFX) - The Danish government wants to introduce bio-ethanol in petrol and diesel by the end of 2007, a spokesman for the Liberal Party, part of the coalition government, told Danish television TV2 News today.
The plan is part of the centre-right government's long-term energy strategy for 2025 due to be presented soon.
The government aims to add 2 pct bio-ethanol to petrol and diesel by the end of the year, raising the level to 6 pct in 2010, according to the Liberal Party spokesman on energy issues, Lars Christian Lilleholt.
'The goal is to make Denmark more 'green' and to adapt our transport sector progressively, reasonably and in a financially profitable way so that it uses more bio-fuels,' he said.
The increased use of bio-ethanol will enable Denmark to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, in particular from politically unstable regions.
In its bid to make the country more environmentally friendly the government will also encourage the use of other alternatives, such as wind power, a field where Denmark is a world leader.
The transport sector accounts for 60 pct of the petrol used in Denmark.
Although the country is self-sufficient in oil through its North Sea reserves, 'there will come a day when that will no longer be the case,' Lilleholt said.
To date, the Danish government has been against the use of bio-ethanol, arguing that the environmental benefits were limited and preferring to wait for the second generation of bio-ethanol, currently under development. newsdesk@afxnews.com afp/mdl/tw COPYRIGHT Copyright AFX News Limited 2006. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of AFX News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AFX News. AFX News and AFX Financial News Logo are registered trademarks of AFX News Limited
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