Thailand targets replacing 91 RON gasoline with E10

Thailand is aiming to phase out 91 RON gasoline this year and replace it with 10% ethanol-blended gasoline, more commonly known as “gasohol 91”, an official with the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency (DEDE) said. Motorcyclists are the largest consumers of 91 RON gasoline and whether Thailand can successfully phase out the fuel will depend on whether all motorcycles can run smoothly on gasohol 91, Twarath Sutabutr, DEDE’s deputy director general, said. The country three years ago had attempted to replace 95 RON gasoline with gasohol 95 but the plan never materialized. But there is an urgency this time as the country’s ethanol production capacity far exceeds its current demand, leaving plants operating at below capacity. (January 28, 2010)