“Yesterday’s announcement by Shell that ethanol blended fuel will be available at selected Coles Express service stations in Brisbane and Canberra, followed by a roll-out of Shell Unleaded E10 to a network of service stations right across the Eastern seaboard in 2007 is welcomed but long overdue,” Leader of the Nationals in the Senate, Senator Ron Boswell said. Senator Boswell said that while he congratulated Shell on its announcement and the contract of 40ML of ethanol from Australia’s largest ethanol producer, Manildra, it still did not mean that the major fuel companies would meet their voluntary targets this year. “I have been calling on the major oil companies to extend their distribution of ethanol blended fuels into the major markets of Sydney and Melbourne and through the high volume distribution networks of the supermarket petrol outlets,” he said. “I am pleased that at last, Shell has taken a big step forward on blended fuel and has taken this initiative through the Coles Express network. “It is also pleasing that the savings discount, made possible by the Federal Government’s excise free status for low emission fuels is being passed on to consumers. “Hopefully Woolworths will follow and quickly distribute an e10 blended fuel through its petrol outlets,” Senator Boswell said. ENDS Media Contact 02 6277 3244