Pornchai Rujiprapha, permanent secretary at the Energy Ministry, will meet Deputy Transport Minister Sansern Wongcha-um on November 30 to encourage the use of natural gas by vehicles, including private cars, buses and taxis.

"A reduction in annual taxes on vehicles that use natural gas will be one of various measures proposed," said Boonsong Kerdklang, deputy director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo).

He said the office had previously proposed many measures to promote natural-gas fuelled cars to the Cabinet of deposed prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, but the matter had stalled since the military coup last September.

Boonsong said that under the measures outlined, vehicles having two engine modes - fuelled by both natural gas and petroleum - will get a 25 per cent annual tax reduction, while vehicles using only natural-gas will receive a 50-per cent tax reduction.

Eppo will also meet the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to ask for the expansion of natural gas stations in inner Bangkok areas. Under new city-zoning rules, petrol stations cannot be built on roads less than 16 metres wide.

Energy Reporters

 The Nation