Bangchak to put ethanol in reserve

Thailand’s Bangchak Petroleum Public Ltd. Co. said it is prepared to put more ethanol in reserve for fear of an ethanol shortage by the end of the year, as wholesale prices of ethanol continue to increase. Managing Director Anusorn Saengnimnuan revealed that the company was worried over the exports of molasses, one of the major raw materials in the production of ethanol. Increases in the exports of molasses would result in higher production cost, thus pushing up wholesale prices. , To cope with a possible ethanol shortage, Bangchak had planned to put some of its output in reserve. (March 31, 2009)