Biodiesel B3 to replace B2 in May

BANGKOK, 15 April 2010 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy prepares to replace biodiesel B2 with B3 next month, estimating that the strategy will help raising the consumption of biodiesel B100 by 400,000 liters per day.

Minister of Energy MD Wannarat Channukul stated that the replacement had the objective to promote the use of alternative energies among the public. The Department of Energy Business is currently working on quality standards for biodiesel B3 expected to be completed in a month. The standards will then be submitted to the Energy Policy and Planning Commission for consideration before they are used nationwide.

The latest survey on domestic raw materials for the production of palm oil and oil palm produce shows they are sufficient for the production of B3 as planned.

The Ministry expected that after B3 was officially introduced, the amount of biodiesel B100 consumed would increase from 1.8 million liters per day at present to 2.1 million liters. Then the ministry will proceed with the replacement of B3 with B5 at the beginning of next year.