Shell Thailand ready for E85

Speaking before the Cabinet approved the promotion of E85 gasohol, Thirapot Vajarabaya, chairman of Shell Thailand, said his company was ready to start selling E85 at service stations, The Nation reports. Chairman of the Thai Ethanol Producers Association Sirivuthi Siamphakdee was also bullish about the fuel. The price of molasses – a key requirement for ethanol production – has become more costly and 42 kilograms are needed to make one liter of ethanol. The cost would work out to be 13-14 baht (US$0.39-0.42) per liter, excluding the carry-on cost (miscellaneous cost) of 5.70 baht (US$0.17) per liter. Based on Thailand’s petrol consumption of 20 million liters a day, if all cars are to be fuelled by E85, then 17 million liters of ethanol would be required. (June 7, 2008)