Belgium approves E8 for Jan. 1, 2017

In Belgium, the government has approved the increase of ethanol blending to 8% from the current 4.5% with the mandate coming into force on Jan. 1, 2017. The mandate is expected to rise again to 10% by 2020 in compliance with the European Renewable Energy Directive. As the blending is only in the 95 octane gasoline, the few cars built before 2000 that could potentially be damaged by an E10 blend should use the 98 octane rating gasoline that won’t be subject to the mandate.