Thailand to phase out pure petrol by October 2012

To stimulate demand for locally produced ethanol, Thailand will phase out pure petrol by October 2012. Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said that the move is expected to double ethanol consumption to two million liters a day and enhance the capacity utilization of ethanol producers. The country’s current capacity is three million liters and with the current demand, there is a huge oversupply which is proving to be detrimental to ethanol producers. State-owned Bangchak Petroleum said it is committed to the phase out of pure petrol by the end of 2012. (December 1, 2011)