New biofuel delayed
The Energy Business Department has delayed the implementation of biodiesel 100 (B-100) to September, to give producers more time to adjust to the higher standard.
Director-general Panich Pongpirodom said yesterday Thailand was still in the initial stages of biodiesel production, and so plant operators should be given more time to adjust."[While the requirements are not yet exercised], we have the international standards to govern the quality," he said. The B-100 standard requirements were originally scheduled to take effect last September. B-100 is mixed with diesel at a ratio of 5:95, because it is still not efficient enough to fuel vehicles by itself. Panich said biodiesel performed worse than did high-speed diesel, so vehicles using it must have their engine adjusted. The department has, however, enforced the requirements on the quality standard for B-5 diesel, because this diesel does not require engine adjustment. B-5 diesel is less than 5 per cent biodiesel. "To promote biodiesel commercially, we will initially promote the B-5 formula, because this has been accepted by carmakers and does not require engine adjustment. It's also in line with the supply situation," said Panich. He said he believed that raw-material supplies for biodiesel production would be sufficient by 2013. And with enough of a biodiesel supply, the department would promote use of the B-10 formula, which is 10 per cent biodiesel. Panich also urged consumers to switch to B-5 diesel, which is available at many petrol stations. "This is of similar quality as high-speed diesel, and by consuming this fuel, you are adding value to agricultural products and reducing demand for energy imports," he said.
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