06/12/2007 (Thai News Agency), Bangkok – In response to His Majesty King Bhumibol's advice on bio-diesel production, Thailand's Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Ministry is set to accelerate expanding oil plant growing areas to accommodate alternative fuel production.

Speaking at a seminar on "Agricultural Economic Conditions in 2007 and the Outlook in 2008," Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives Minister Thira Sutabutr said he had instructed preparation of a comprehensive scheme to analyse varied factors affecting different varieties of plants so that farmers know what plants they should grow in the coming year.

In particular, the ministry would give priority to a plan to bring farm outputs to produce alternative fuel in compliance with His Majesty the King's advice on the production of bio-diesel to reduce energy imports.

He said the ministry had a clear objective to promote growing oil palm trees in tracts covering more than 500,000 rais per year.
 
It set a target to expand the palm plantation areas to more than 2.5 million rais nationwide. Of this, more than 700,000 rais are located in land reform areas.

The planned expansion of palm plantation is aimed to give local communities access to alternative fuel consumption.
 
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand conceded all parties concerned needed to accelerate expanding palm plantation areas to facilitate the production of bio-diesel.
 
Speaking with TV Channel 9 News programme of how to comply with His Majesty the King's advice on bio-diesel, he said the alternative fuel is categorised into two types.

First is bio-diesel produced in various communities nationwide with raw materials stemming from used vegetable oil and palm oil.

Second is bio-diesel used for commercial purposes. The fuel is brought to mix with diesel and placed for sale at oil service stations. Total sales of the supplemental bio-diesel had gradually increased this year.
 
He said palm oil is a key raw material for the production of bio-diesel. Its supply is currently sufficient for production this year, but is unlikely to be sufficient next year.

So, it is necessary to speed expansion of plantation areas.

For the bio-diesel production in communities, he said, processing of usable residues for alternative fuel production must be developed. (TNA)-E005