ALTERNATIVE ENERGY / BIOFUEL 2004 CONFERENCE
Government ponders possibility of supercharged gasohol blend
A woman shows off a decanter of Gasohol 95 from Bangchak Petroleum, made
from a mixture of gasoline and ethanol, at the opening of the Biofuel 2004
conference. Thailand plans to raise its daily consumption of ethanol twelvefold
by 2006, to three million litres per day, or 10% of its daily demand for
gasoline. - CHANAT KATANYU
YUTHANA PRAIWAN YUWADEE TUNYASIRI
Automobiles in Thailand will be soon filling up with gasohol, a mixture of
ordinary petrol and crop-derived ethanol, once a government programme to
massively expand local ethanol production begins to take off in 2006.
Industry Minister Phinij Jarusombat said he would discuss with automakers the
possibility of developing engines that can run on a stronger blend of gasohol _
20% ethanol mixed with 80% gasoline.
Gasohol, widely used as an alternative fuel for automobiles, is generally made
from a 10% ethanol blend and requires no engine modification.
To run on 20% ethanol, some engines may require minor changes to ensure that
they suffer no long-term ill effects.
With ethanol production targets set at three million litres a day by 2006,
demand for ethanol must rise accordingly, he said.
As well, higher consumption of ethanol will reduce the volume of oil imports in
a direct proportion to their increased use, which will mean huge benefits for
the national economy.
If possible, a 20% ethanol blend will be made mandatory for both regular and
premium petrol to prevent oil companies from trying to avoid offering gasohol
from their pumps, said Mr Phinij, adding he will discuss the issue with Energy
Minister Prommin Lertsuridej.
At an international conference titled "Biofuel: Challenges for Asia's Future",
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in his opening speech yesterday urged all
Asean nations, China, Japan, Korea and Australia to join forces in developing
biofuel as a future alternative energy source to replace costly oil imports.
The conference, at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, is being
attended by more than 500 delegates from 13 countries.
Mr Thaksin said it was appropriate that the conference was being held against
the backdrop of global oil prices so high that they were beginning to pose a
threat to regional and global economic growth.
"We see this situation as unfair for the poorer countries which are bound to
pay for oil at just as high a price as rich nations," he said.
He called on Asian nations to pool their available resources to develop
alternative fuels, especially biofuels, to help reduce heavy dependence on oil.
Although biofuels are unlikely to ever replace oil completely, such energy
sources could offer an important alternative in case of future shortages.
Mr Thaksin also called on Asian nations to share information on biofuel
processing techniques as a way of dealing with the current oil crisis, which
has seen prices soaring as high as US$50 a barrel in recent weeks.
Philippine Energy Secretary Vincent Perez said Thailand was considered an ideal
centre for Asean alternative energy production due to its high degree of
private vehicle ownership and strength in agricultural production.
He added that the push for producing alternative fuels from farm products would
enhance the economic fundamentals of Asean because agriculture is a key sector
for every nation in the group.
Roberto Rodridgues, Brazil's Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply,
said the South American nation was willing to provide expertise and management
systems to countries interested in using alternative fuels.
"We have successfully dealt with the slump in sugar prices locally by
converting sugar into alcohol for automobile use and this also helps keep local
oil prices lower," said Mr Rodridgues.
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