Thailand now ranks eighth among the largest biofuel producers in the world. The survey was conducted among 63 biofuel producing countries by the Renewable Energy Network for the 21st Century, which is associated with the United Nations Environment Program.

The United States comes first among the world’s top eight, followed by Brazil, France, Germany, Argentina, Canada, China, and Thailand. Among Asian countries, Thailand is ranked second after China.

The Deputy Director-General of the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency, Mr. Twarath Sutabutr, said that the Ministry of Energy has set a target to develop Thailand as the largest biofuel producer in Asia and among the world’s top five in the future.

Biofuel is fuel made from biological materials, or renewable resources, especially plant biomass, vegetable oils, and treated municipal and industrial wastes. Thailand is abundant in agricultural resources that can be used as raw materials for biofuels, extracted from oil-yielding plants, such as oil palm, coconut, soybean, peanut, sesame, castor, sunflower seed, and physic nut. Biofuels can also be obtained from plants that yield starch and sugar, such as cassava, sugarcane, sorghum, molasses, and rice straw. Alternative energy sources, whether they are biodiesel, ethanol, or gasohol, are receiving a major boost, as they will not only reduce the country’s foreign currency expenditure on oil imports, but will also benefit farmers and Thailand’s agricultural sector in the long run.

The Ministry of Energy aims to produce nine million liters of ethanol and 4.5 million liters of biodiesel a day by 2022. At present, the country’s daily production of ethanol is 1.2 million liters, and that of biodiesel is 1.8 million liters. The biofuel policy is focused not only on the energy target, but also emphasizes income generation for farmers.

The introduction of gasohol in 2003, at petrol stations in Bangkok, showed remarkable results. Gasohol usage is starting to gain acceptance and has replaced about 20 percent of normal gasoline used by motorists. The advantage of promoting this fuel on a large scale is obvious, given the fact that biofuel can be produced within the region from local agricultural commodities.

From the promotion of gasohol, a mix of 10 percent of ethanol with 90 percent gasoline 95 was formulated, and the target set to distribute gasohol 95 nationwide from 1 January 2007 onward. From 2009 onward, gasohol 91 and 95 mixed with ethanol has been promoted, replacing gasoline 91 and 95.

In 2005, the Government approved an investment roadmap worth 30 million US dollars to support the biodiesel program over the next eight years. The target for the whole country is to produce 8.5 million liters of biodeisel per day by the year 2010. A test-run using biodiesel performed on public buses in Bangkok showed encouraging results.

Promotion of the use of low-cost biofuels is also listed in Thailand’s national agenda.