Chavalit Pichalai, deputy director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (Eppo), said Bt1 billion would be loaned to alternative-fuel and recyclable-energy projects at low interest rates.

About Bt300 million is for research and about Bt2 billion is to support other projects, including biomass, wind power and other clean energy.

The fund aims to boost the proportion of alternative energy to 4.7 per cent this year from 3 per cent last year. The energy saved is equivalent to 25,700 tonnes of crude oil.

"The energy-saving campaign will be intensified in May, starting with the promotion of gasohol. This should help consumers save money as gasohol is Bt2 to Bt2.5 per litre cheaper than petrol," Chavalit said.

Now that the hot season has arrived, Eppo is campaigning for all possible energy-saving measures, particularly to reduce electricity consumption.

Chavalit said it was highly possible that power plants would resort to high-priced fuels like bunker oil and diesel to meet rising power demand.

"If the public is not encouraged to help save energy, the power-generating cost will be higher and this must be facto-

red into fuel tariffs," Chavalit said.

Eppo also plans to campaign for the saving of tap water, as electricity accounts for 30 per cent of the cost of its production. If the public reduces tap-water consumption, this would automatically reduce power demand. At present, average water consumption in Bangkok is 200 litres per head per day.

"There are ways to reduce water consumption. We could wash dishes once a day, check

for leaks, and so on," Chavalit added.