Fuel importation company Enemed will not be offering a blend of petrol and ethanol any time soon, even though it may generate fewer emissions during use.

Energy Minister Joe Mizzi was asked about its importation by MP Marlene Farrugia in a Parliamentary Question. She pointed out that the fuel was not only greener but also cheaper.

However, the minister gave a list of logistical - and chemical - reasons why this would not be possible in Malta.

He started off by saying that ethanol from the US did not conform the EU standards, and that it was 20% more expensive than petrol itself.

He also explained that Enemed did not have enough storage tanks to dedicate one to the blend, and that since ethanol absorbs water from the air, it would also need to go through a drying process, which would make it more expensive.

The blend would also evaporate faster than petrol alone, meaning there would be more emissions - before the fuel was even used.

And if these reasons were not enough, he also quoted ethanol’s low calorific value.