Key Decision in the Fight Against Coronavirus

Ministry of Industry and Technology made an important decision in Turkey's fight against coronavirus. In contact with sector representatives, the ministry suspended the mandatory requirement to blend 3 percent ethanol into petrol for three months to meet ethanol demand in disinfectant and cologne production. Adil Pelister, Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Chemical Substances and Products Exporters Association (İKMİB), commenting on the matter, said the decision was a very important development in the fight against coronavirus. Pelister noted that they had also submitted views to the ministry in this direction, stating: "We had proposed to the Ministry that the use of bioethanol, which is used at a 3 percent rate to increase octane in fuels, particularly petrol, be discontinued or at least reduced to 1 or 2 percent, with the difference being used in the medical sector." Pelister, noting that they were pleased to contribute by sourcing the medical sector's ethyl alcohol demand through bioethanol produced from molasses in sugar factories, said: "For the past two days, our member companies have been reaching out to us regarding their ethyl alcohol/ethanol needs for cologne and disinfectant production. As İKMİB, we took on the responsibility of meeting the required ethyl alcohol/ethanol demand. Based on our research, outside of fuel, we found that bioethanol produced from molasses derived from sugar beets could be a solution. We made the following initiative to create a domestic source for the ethyl alcohol Turkey currently needs; first we consulted with three factories that produce significant amounts of sugar from sugar beets in Turkey. In our most recent meeting with Amasya Sugar Factory, they said they had 7,000 tonnes of molasses on hand and that they could obtain 2.5 million litres of bioethanol from this molasses. We made efforts to increase production in this regard. They said they could produce ethyl alcohol for use especially in medical products, disinfectants and colognes, and supply it to the chemical sector. We responded quickly to this, and they began production. We direct the member companies reaching out to us to Amasya Sugar Factory. With this initiative, we also prevented price increases. It was a positive development that ethyl alcohol obtained from sugar beets was directed to medical and cosmetic sector production," he said.

"Exports should continue without disruption"

Pelister, noting that Turkey's ethyl alcohol demand is currently being met, made the following remarks regarding the export restrictions applied to disinfectants: "In accordance with the decision taken by the General Directorate of Customs, disinfectant, cologne, ethyl alcohol type products and wet wipes are currently not permitted for export due to urgent domestic demand. However, many of our companies that have received orders and need to make deliveries could suffer as a result. As İKMİB, we are in coordinated communication with our producers, exporters and relevant ministries on this matter. We await the necessary permits to be granted for controlled exports of the said products. Exports should continue without disruption. Markets will normalise in two or three months, but if we lose our position in terms of exports, it will be difficult to regain it. Especially the export of cosmetic products not alcohol-based should be unrestricted. We once again thank our Ministry of Industry and Technology for the decision it has taken to meet the urgent need currently arising in our chemical sector."