BERLIN, March 4 (Reuters) - The German government, moving to reassert control over a planned roll-out of high-biofuel gasoline that threatens to unravel, said it would host a summit on Tuesday next week with all participants in the project.
A spokeswoman for BP, the main producer of the fuel in Germany, told Reuters the oil giant had suspended production at its two refineries in Gelsenkirchen and Lingen because of poor sales.
That meant the introduction of the fuel, known as E10, at pumps in northern Germany has been suspended.
A government spokesman said on Friday that representatives of the firms involved in production of the fuel, as well as of distributors, consumer protection groups and Germany's motorists association were invited to the summit, which would take place next Tuesday.
The aim of the meeting is to find a common solution to problems that had beset the roll-out, a spokesman for Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said.
The government permitted a rise in the maximum level of bioethanol allowed in blended gasoline to 10 percent from 5 percent from the start of this year, kicking off a roll-out of E10 that was scheduled for the first quarter.
But biofuel industry association MWV said up to 70 percent of motorists were avoiding the new blend in petrol stations, with many apparently concerned it might cause engine damage.
Berlin demanded clarity from the biofuel industry on Thursday on whether the phase-in of the fuel would continue after its association sent mixed messages.
Late on Thursday the MWV said the roll-out of the fuel would continue, contradicting an earlier media report that quoted the organisation's head as saying it would be temporarily stopped.
(Reporting by Thorsten Severin and Eric Kelsey; writing by John Stonestreet, editing by Jane Baird) Keywords: GERMANY/BIOFUEL (John.Stonestreet@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2888 5217; Reuters Messaging: Thorsten.Severin.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
A spokeswoman for BP, the main producer of the fuel in Germany, told Reuters the oil giant had suspended production at its two refineries in Gelsenkirchen and Lingen because of poor sales.
That meant the introduction of the fuel, known as E10, at pumps in northern Germany has been suspended.
A government spokesman said on Friday that representatives of the firms involved in production of the fuel, as well as of distributors, consumer protection groups and Germany's motorists association were invited to the summit, which would take place next Tuesday.
The aim of the meeting is to find a common solution to problems that had beset the roll-out, a spokesman for Economy Minister Rainer Bruederle said.
The government permitted a rise in the maximum level of bioethanol allowed in blended gasoline to 10 percent from 5 percent from the start of this year, kicking off a roll-out of E10 that was scheduled for the first quarter.
But biofuel industry association MWV said up to 70 percent of motorists were avoiding the new blend in petrol stations, with many apparently concerned it might cause engine damage.
Berlin demanded clarity from the biofuel industry on Thursday on whether the phase-in of the fuel would continue after its association sent mixed messages.
Late on Thursday the MWV said the roll-out of the fuel would continue, contradicting an earlier media report that quoted the organisation's head as saying it would be temporarily stopped.
(Reporting by Thorsten Severin and Eric Kelsey; writing by John Stonestreet, editing by Jane Baird) Keywords: GERMANY/BIOFUEL (John.Stonestreet@thomsonreuters.com; +49 30 2888 5217; Reuters Messaging: Thorsten.Severin.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.