Independent fuel stations seem to be doing all the work in ethanol promotion, according to SSA boss Ron Bowden.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported yesterday that Deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile told a food industry dinner on Monday night that supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths, and their fuel partners Shell and Caltex, need to promote more ethanol-blended fuel at their 1000 outlets around Australia.

Currently, only one of the 1000 sites around Australia sells ethanol-blended petrol.

Bowden told ABC Radio it was common knowledge to everyone in the industry that the supermarkets dominate and control the retail market.

“If we’re going to make significant inroads into getting ethanol blends, biofuels, into customers’ fuel tanks, then the supermarkets have got to be part of the scene,” he said.

E10 is currently only widely available in Queensland and northern NSW.