Thailand: Energy Minister urges Thais to use alternative energy more

Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul encourages Thai people to use more alternative energies and help conserve energy in order to prevent energy shortages. The Energy Minister today chaired the opening of a pure biodiesel factory in the eastern province of Rayong. The factory could produce 300,000 liters of biodiesel a day and used crude palm oil from domestic sources as the main raw material. The establishment of the factory was in line with the Energy Ministry’s policy to promote the use of alternative energies. In his speech to mark the opening, Mr. Wannarat pointed out that the amount of the world’s oil reserve was decreasing and it was forecast that it would be used up by the next 10 to 20 years. Mr. Wannarat further stated that Thailand was promoting the alternative energy production in order to reduce oil imports. Moreover, he stressed the nation’s potential to produce alternative energies as it had plentiful energy crops for the production of both ethanol and biodiesel. The minister said he believed that alternative energy development and energy conservation could help boost Thailand’s energy security with cooperation from the people. (June 15, 2009)