Costa Rica to test ethanol as gasoline alternative

Costa Rican state oil company said Thursday it plans to start testing use of ethanol to reduce country’s reliance on expensive gasoline.

In a news release, the Refinadora Costarricense de Petroleo said the program would start at 62 gas stations along the Pacific coast on Nov. 15.

For a year, regular gasoline will include 5 percent ethanol. If no problems appear, the percentage would be gradually increased to 10 percent.

The company said it has already tested ethanol fuels on its own vehicles.

Company President Littleton Bolton said the company is being aided by Brazil's Petrolera Brasilena, which has long distributed ethanol fuels, reports the AP.