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Alternative fuel use surging |
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Consumption of new fuels including gasohol surged dramatically in April, as consumers continued to seek ways to reduce the impact of high oil prices. The use of alternative fuels reduced gasoline and diesel consumption by an average of 3.83 million litres daily in April, according to the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO). Veerapon Jitrapraditkul, the EPPO director, said that if the trend continued, the country's overall energy bills would be reduced by 42 billion baht for the year, a calculation based on an average petrol price of 30 baht per litre. According to statistics compiled by EPPO, gasohol consumption in April averaged eight million litres a day - double the amount local drivers consumed in April 2007. Of the total, gasohol 91 containing 10% ethanol accounted for 1.96 million litres daily and premium gasohol 95 the rest. Sales of the newer E20, containing 20% ethanol and 80% gasoline, averaged 47,000 litres a day in April. Consumption of biodiesel B5, a blend of 5% biofuel and diesel, was up nearly 700% year-on-year, to 8.43 million litres daily from 1.072 million litres. Biodiesel B2, a 2% biofuel mixture, recorded a slight increase to 45.16 million litres daily. EPPO also said that 72,950 vehicles were now using compressed natural gas (CNG), which is marketed locally as NGV or natural gas for vehicles.
It said the Energy Ministry's policy to offer tax exemptions to
operators of NGV service stations will help increase the number of
stations to 320 by year-end from 187 at present. Currently, NGV
consumption is averaging 57.9 million cubic feet daily. |
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Bangkok Post, 11.05.2008 |
