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December 03, 2006 07:35pm

QUEENSLAND Premier Peter Beattie says the state's motorists are embracing ethanol-blended fuel, and he's hopeful of increasing its use 20-fold within five years.

Mr Beattie visited Toowoomba today to jointly announce with BP Australia a plan to roll out ethanol blended fuel to BP service stations in the southern city.

The low-emission fuel, which has up to 10 per cent ethanol, is being marketed as the New BP Unleaded Petrol.

Mr Beattie promised during the state election campaign this year to mandate five per cent ethanol in all petrol produced in Queensland by 2010.

He said this would increase the amount of ethanol-blended fuel used in the state to 200 million litres a year.

If the mandate is successful, the proportion of ethanol will increase to 10 per cent after 2010.

Mr Beattie said Queenslanders were embracing ethanol.

"It's environmentally friendly and it's renewable," he said.