Agriculture Ministry's plans are on track for ethanol production

Thailands Deputy Agriculture Minister Theerachai Saenkaew said the Bio-Fuel Development and Promotion Committee has resolved to establish two workgroups to map out an integrated plan for the development and production of ethanol. The two workgroups will compile related data, problems and obstacles within the Thai ethanol industry and then devise plans to match raw material supplies with demand for ethanol production. The meeting of the Council of Economic Ministers has recently approved a pilot project to sell E85 fuel at 30-40 PTT service stations within the next three to six months. There are sufficient supplies of sugarcane and cassava in the country and a surplus has been exported in the form of refined sugar, shredded cassava, cassava pellets and flour. The number of ethanol plants will increase by 11 plants by 2009, which will bring total ethanol production to about 2.5 million liters per day. (June 11, 2008)