Overview
- The Energy Secretariat published Resolution 79/2026 on Friday, lifting the gasoline oxygen cap to 5.6% when the added oxygen comes from bioethanol and allowing blends of up to 15% ethanol.
- The measure is optional for refiners, the 12% national ethanol blend mandate stays in force, and diesel rules that already allow up to 20% biodiesel remain unchanged.
- The government frames the move as a way to ease crude‑driven increases at the pump by letting companies replace more fossil fuel with lower‑cost, lower‑tax ethanol produced in Argentina.
- Bioethanol producers welcomed the step, saying idle capacity can raise supply from about 1.2 to 1.5 million m3 and cut fuel imports, while a Tucumán sugar institute warned that making it voluntary reduces investment certainty and refiners and automakers are reviewing how to apply it.
- Mechanics and technical studies say modern fuel‑injected cars can run on E15 without changes, though older carbureted or worn engines could show power loss or higher consumption as ethanol’s cleaning effect exposes wear.