Projected surplus stalls plans to build ethanol plants

Only 11 out of the 47 approved licensees in Thailand were producing ethanol as of January, with a total daily output of 1.2 million liters, said Praphon Wongtharua, director of alternative fuels of Thailand’s Department of Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE). Another two licensees will be ready to start production with a daily capacity of 400,000 liters, a joint venture between Thai Oil P.L.C. and Mitr Phol and Padaeng Industry P.L.C. in the town of Mae Sot in western Thailand, and a subsidiary of KSL P.L.C. in Ban Pong, Ratchaburi. “Given the projected huge surplus over the next several years and no definite date when mainstream petrol fuels will be phased out, the investments carry a very high risk,” Wongtharua said. (January 28, 2009)