Mingkwan cautious on E85

"It is a very sensitive topic because it involves a number of parties, including auto-makers, ethanol producers, cane growers and other ministries. It's too soon for me to comment, as my working style is to make a decision based on my analysis of all the information," he said yesterday.

Since he was appointed industry minister, he has come in for public criticism because he is a former Toyota executive. Toyota Motor Thailand president Mitsuhiro Sonoda told the press on the day of Mingkwan's appointment that the company would keep a proper distance from their former man.

"We will not meet with him in person, as we prefer to express our opinion as a member of the Automotive Industry Club," he said.

During a lunch meeting with the press yesterday, Mingkwan said: "No matter what my decision is [on the promotion of E85], some parties will gain and others will lose. But I won't favour any side, I will make the country my first priority."

E85 fuel is a mixture of 85-per cent ethanol and 15-per-cent petrol.

Meanwhile, the minister said on the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board that he would give full support to the development of the sugar-cane industry to create more income for growers.

"I will focus on cane growers in the same way I did with farmers," he said. He also referred to the rice price, which rocketed when he was commerce minister.

Ratanaporn Chuengsanguansit, secretary-general of the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board, said the national cane agenda should be focused on increasing the crop yield. The board has forecast production will reach 85 million tonnes in the next harvesting season.

She said sugar exports would probably be lower next year because some of it will be used for ethanol production. However, it will mainly depend on demand for ethanol and how much cane is harvested.