Published on August 18, 2005

Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon yesterday led 89 Thai ambassadors and consuls in a brainstorming session to seek foreign know-how on alternative energy sources, as oil prices spiral on global markets.

The issue was also raised during an audience with His Majesty the King at Klai Kangwon Palace in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Kantathi said.

The search has been going on for a few years to seek alternative energy from plants, said Vitavas Srivihok, an ambassador attached to the ministry. He said diplomats were assigned to explore biological alternatives from their host countries.

Thailand might benefit from alternative energy projects currently being conducted in other countries, particularly those with a similar climate and geographical area to Thailand.

Vitavas gave an example of the use of jatropha curcas - also known as physic nuts - to produce bio-diesel in India.

Diplomats reported that rape seed was also being used in the Czech Republic, Sweden, Austria, Germany, France and South Korea to produce bio-diesel.

Other alternative energy sources include energetic willow, canola, soybean, corn and palm.

When it finalises the list of plants for alternative energy, the ministry will pass it on to His Majesty the King’s Chaipattana Foundation, which is researching the possibility of using several plants as alternative energy sources.

The Foreign Ministry will also cooperate with other government agencies interested in seeing projects that are underway in other countries.

By Sopaporn Saeung

The Nation

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