02/06/2008 (The Bangkok Post) - Bio-hydrogenated diesel (BHD), a high-quality biodiesel suitable for blending to create a greener alternative fuel for vehicles, would be launched commercially after tests prove successful, said PTT Plc president Prasert Bunsumpun. Testing of the hydrogenation process to produce BHD from vegetable oil would be completed next year.

BHD can be mixed in a 10:90 ratio with diesel fuel, compared with the 5:95 ratio of the existing B100 biodiesel to diesel fuel.

PTT, the state-run oil and gas conglomerate, signed an agreement on Friday to collaborate with Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) and two of the Japanese automaker's local units to research BHD. Toyota would supply Hilux Vigo pickup trucks and diesel engines to PTT for the tests.

Mr Prasert said the collaboration was part of PTT's policy to keep pace with the rapid development of energy technologies.

PTT has been promoting gasohol, palm diesel, B5 biodiesel and natural gas for vehicles to reduce oil bills.

''BHD, the new alternative fuel, has a similar structure to diesel but higher quality. It contains a cetane value higher than 80, more complete combustion, is sulphur-free and produces less pollution,'' he said.

Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop said PTT-Toyota collaboration would bring about an innovative biological fuel that benefits Thailand in many ways because it can be produced from various raw materials including non-food plants such as jatropha and seaweed. This helps reduce the supply shortage of feedstocks and eases pressure on other crops that are being grown for both food and energy.

Toyota Motor Corp managing director Shigeki Suzuki said that given the government's support for expansion of palm oil plantations in Thailand, Toyota would like to introduce BHD as a product to get the best value out of palm oil.

Due to the high quality of BHD, farmers would also be assured that growing palm oil is worthwhile.

BHD produces less pollution and promotes longer engine life compared to traditional biodiesel. In addition, the blending proportion of BHD into diesel can be higher than for the traditional alternative.

Toyota believes that BHD is the right technology to support the government's environmental policies, as the fuel can also help reduce soot and particle emissions and carbon monoxide.

Ryoichi Sasaki, president of Bangkok-based Toyota Motor Asia Pacific Engineering & Manufacturing Co, said the company saw the importance of supporting biological fuel projects in Thailand. As a result, it was providing technological support to evaluate automobiles and engines as well as testing to determine if there would be any negative effects on parts and fuel injection systems that might arise from the use of BHD-derived fuel.