Tuesday November 6, 2007
Thailand to double ethanol content in petrol
BANGKOK: Thailand, the world's second biggest sugar exporter, plans to double the ethanol content in petroleum next year to lower import bills and domestic fuel prices.
Most gas stations in Thailand would start selling petrol with 20% ethanol, or so-called E20, early next year, Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras said in an interview.
PTT Pcl, Royal Dutch Shell Plc and other oil companies currently sold petrol with 10% ethanol, he said.
Thailand, which imports almost all of its crude, has promoted the use of ethanol and palm oil in motor vehicle fuel to reduce reliance on crude oil as futures trade near US$100 a barrel.
“This government has pushed very hard to promote the use of gasohol,'' or petroleum blended with ethanol, Kosit said. “We have a serious long-term plan for this alternative fuel to cut crude oil imports.''
The country's crude and fuel imports in the first nine months this year fell 3.7% to US$18.5bil as consumption of gasohol increased, according to the commerce ministry data. – Bloomberg
For Another perspective from the The Nation, a partner of Asia News Network, click here
Latest business news from AP-Wire
- DiGi unveils affordable package for BlackBerry phone users
- Oprah Winfrey's departure presents problem for TV stations
- Astro’s high definition future
- P1 defends its cutting-edge ad
- F&N prepared for life without Coca-Cola
- Zeti: Economy picked up at faster pace in Q3
- Pressure on selling
- Hershey may bid US$17b for Cadbury, exceeding Warren Buffett's Kraft
- Keen for a trip to Iceland?
- China’s ICBC gets banking licence via bilateral deal
- Ancillary income boost for AirAsia
- DiGi unveils affordable package for BlackBerry phone users
- Trade pacts boom
- Keen for a trip to Iceland?
- ASN3 pays 5.5 sen income distribution
- Zeti: Economy picked up at faster pace in Q3
- RSPO still intact despite greenhouse gas contention
- Your 10 questions
- Oprah Winfrey's departure presents problem for TV stations
- Affin Q3 profit soars on high net interest income


