Thai Energy Policy Council gives green light

Thailand’s National Energy Policy Council in December gave the green light for production and distribution of ethanol used as fuel.  Viraphol Jirapraditkul, acting director-general of the Department of Energy Business (EPPO), said on December 4 after the meeting of the council that it had agreed with the Finance, Industry and Energy ministries to speed up the establishment of ethanol plants. The council also approved the extension of a schedule for using new standards of fuel quality control and following Euro-IV emissions standards from 2010 to January 1, 2012, because oil firms have requested that they be given five years to upgrade their refineries. (December 6, 2006)