Oil-palm speed-up
The Energy and Agriculture ministries are speeding up plans to promote the expansion of oil-palm plantations, in order to boost the country's production of biodiesel fuel.
Acting Energy permanent secretary Pornchai Rujiprapha said the two authorities were jointly setting up additional measures to encourage farmers to produce more palm oil. He said many farmers had been negligent in planting oil palms as raw materials for producing biodiesel fuels. As a result, the Agriculture Ministry's plan to expand oil-palm production might fall short of its target.Under the plan, the area covered by oil-palm plantations is due to increase from 1.5 million rai of land next year to 6 million rai in 2009. "The urgent measure is to distribute palm sprouts to farmers as much as possible," said Pornchai. Bangchak Petroleum president Anusorn Sangnimnuan recently said the Cabinet had already approved the establishment of a centre for research and development on alternative fuels that was initiated by the company. The project is aimed at producing a fully integrated biodiesel plant next to the company's oil depot in Ayutthaya province. He said the company was seeking additional partners to invest in the project. Its current partners include IBT Construction and the SME Promotion Office. The plant is expected to cost Bt1.2 billion and have a production capacity of 300,000-400,000 litres of biodiesel per day. Energy Reporters, The Nation
|
