The Government of Manitoba has implemented ethanol and biodiesel mandates requiring fuel suppliers to place renewable content into at least 8.5% of their gasoline available for sale, and to blend at least 2% biodiesel into diesel available for sale. The ethanol mandate took effect on January 1, 2008 and the biodiesel mandate took effect on November 1, 2009.

Who is subject to the renewable fuels regulations?

The regulations require diesel fuel suppliers to blend an average of 2% biodiesel in their annual sales of on and off-road diesel fuel, and that gasoline fuel suppliers in Manitoba sell at least 8.5% of their gasoline as ethanol as an average of annual sales. Diesel fuel applications such as jet fuel, heating oil and bunker fuel are excluded, and the railway sector will be excluded until January 1, 2013 (as it is in BC and Alberta).

What quality standards do fuels with renewable content need to meet?

Unlike the renewable fuel regulations elsewhere in Canada, biodiesel (methyl ester) is the prescribed form of renewable diesel for blending with petroleum diesel. Biodiesel sold or offered for sale in Manitoba for applicable uses must meet the specifications in the following standards: (a) ASTM Standard D6751, Standard Specification for Biodiesel Fuel Blend Stock (B100) for Middle Distillate Fuels, ASTM International; or (b) EN 14214, Automotive Fuels - Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) for Diesel Engines - Requirements and Test Methods, European Committee for Standardization.

Ethanol sold or offered for sale in Manitoba must meet the specifications in the following standards:
(a) Can/CGSB-3.511, Oxygenated Unleaded Automotive Gasoline Containing Ethanol; and (b) ASTM D5798, Standard for Fuel Ethanol (E75-E85) for Automotive Spark-Ignition Engines.
 
For more information visit the Government of Manitoba.