Mr. Norkhun Sitthipong, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Energy, said that the current flood across country has little impact on energy crops, such as sugarcane, tapioca and oil palm. Sugarcane, tapioca and corns are mostly grown on highlands and were therefore less affected by flood. He insisted that the slight damage on energy crops would not have severe impact on alternative energy production. Sourcing can still be made from areas unaffected by flood.
He noted that the Ministry has continued to promote alternative energy, both biodiesel and gasohol. A new target has been set for daily alternative energy consumption that is two million litres per day for gasohol and 2.9 million litres per day for biodiesel.
At the moment, daily consumption of alternative energy remains below the target due to lower global oil price and availability of other alternative energy, such as compressed natural gas and liquefied natural gas. Earlier, it was forecast that global oil price would rise to above USD100 per barrel but the actual global oil price stood at approximately USD70-80 per barrel.
For next year, the Ministry hoped to maintain biodiesel consumption to 2.5 million litres per day. The ministry will promote only one biodiesel type — biodiesel B5.
“Alternative energy promotion is among our top priority. It helps the country reduce not only oil import which is very expensive but also lower greenhouse gas emission which is a major cause of climate change,” said Mr. Norkhun.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand’s total oil palm plantation area in 2010 covers 4.2 million rai, out of this 3.6 million rai already yield crops. In the future, the total oil palm plantation area will be increased to 4.5 million rai, with 3.8 million rai yielding crops. Most of the plantation is in the Southern region. The production of oil palm in 2010 is 10 million tones while raw palm oil production is 1.7 million tones. In 2011, fresh oil palm will be increased to 10.86 million tones and raw palm oil volume will be increased to 1.85 million tones.
The Ministry of Energy’s policy to promote only biodiesel B5 will boost the demand for B100 fuel to 2.5 million tones per day from currently 1.6 million tones.
Issued on behalf of : Ministry of Energy
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