The National Innovation Agency hopes major corporations like PTT, the Siam Cement Group and Thai Beverage will invest at least Bt5 billion combined over the next three years to set up bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA) plants in Thailand.
NIA director Supachai Lorlowhakarn yesterday said the agency was conducting a feasibility study on the local establishment of PLA facilities.
The study covers the potential areas for plant establishment and businessplan analysis for investment in facilities with a production capacity of 10,000100,000 tonnes per year.
It will provide data to enable the likes of PTT, SCG and ThaiBev to consider whether to invest.
Supachai said the NIA was encouraging the private sector to invest in bioplastic technology and thus enlarge the industrial sector's investment in this area.
It has cooperated with Kasetsart University to support private firms in conducting research into use of the new technology abroad.
Under the collaboration, the parties have supported 18 innovative bioplastic projects, which are expected to have an investment value of at least Bt30 million.
NIA board member Piyabutr Cholvijarn said Thailand was faced with environmental problems from industrial activities like those in the Map Ta Phut area. Therefore, the industrial sector is developing environmentally friendly technology to lessen the problem, and bioplastics seems to be one such technology.
The NIA has collaborated with Germany's Gesellschaft fuer Technische Zusammenarbeit and Chulalongkorn University's Petroleum and Petrochemical College to study environmental policy regarding bioplasticproduct use abroad, so that Thailand can outline its own environmental policy to support the industry in the long term, he said.
