PTT plans to commercialize algae-based fuel by 2017

PTT has set its sights on introducing algae-based energy by 2017 and it is keen on setting up production facilities in Australia in the near future, according to PTT President and Chief Executive Pailin Chuchottaworn.
The national petroleum company revealed that it was already in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia’s national science agency, to develop a project involving algae-oil extraction.
“Oil extracted from micro-algae is considered the third generation of biofuel and it is also one of our key milestones to maintain the country’s energy security,” said Pailin.
Though the partnership with CSIRO is just in the early stage, Pailin said PTT anticipates huge opportunities from the production of algal oils, in two aspects. First is that PTT could transfer know-how and expertise about bio-products from algal oil from the Australian science agency to the firm’s research center to study up to five potential strains of freshwater algae for use in Thailand.
Second is that the company might set up a production base for algae-based fuel in Australia, where venture-capital firms are interested in investing in such alternative energy.
Australia also has geographical advantages such as long coastlines and large, flat deserts in the interior, with year-round sunshine and stable atmospheric conditions. Given these factors, Australia is one of the best places to grow marine micro-algae for oil extraction.
Vijit Tangnoi, executive vice president of PTT Research and Technology Institute, said that under the initial cooperation with CSIRO, the institute would focus on screening and optimization of fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) from selected marine algae and on genetic modification of those strains.