Government urged to promote ethanol use

BANGKOK, June 27 (TNA) - The Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT) has called on the government to concretely promote the use of ethanol fuel among local motorists, as new findings show that old vehicles can also run by E85 ethanol-blended fuel. Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat, a PTIT directive member and a member of the Foundation for the PTIT, acknowledged on Tuesday that there has been excess supply of ethanol on the domestic market, as demand for ethanol has stood only at about 1.3 million litres a day although E20 ethanol fuel can power up to 1.3 million vehicles. Khunying Thongtip pointed out that E20 fuel has been only available at petrol stations of government-supported PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) and Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited (Bangchak) and the promotion for the use of E85 fuel has remained unclear, urging the government to concretely encourage the use of E20 and E85 ethanol blended fuel among local motorists. According to the PTIT senior personnel, owners of vehicles of old models do not have to install conversion kits, which cost 6000-7000 baht each, when turning to use E85 although other minor adjustments are needed and PTIT will publicize updates once its further research is complete. The PTIT senior personnel also noted that motorcycles can also run by E85, but conversion kits, which cost about 2000-3000 baht each, are needed to be installed, and that the use of E85, in lieu of gasoline, will help boost sales of agricultural produce, as well as reduce crude oil imports and emissions of carbon dioxide. (TNA)