Thai Cabinet OKs Ethanol Import Scheme
07 September 2005
The Thai Cabinet has approved a proposal by the Energy Ministry to allow state-owned oil and gas conglomerate PTT to import 17.82 million liters (4.7 million gallons US) of ethanol to counter an ethanol shortage in the country, according to the Mathichon newspaper.
PTT will import the ethanol in three lots, with the first shipment of between seven million and eight million liters to be imported from India.
The imported ethanol will be exempted from tariffs from September to December, and used solely in ethanol-gasoline blends.
An Energy Ministry study forecast a shortfall of 17 million-18 million liters of ethanol for the remainder of the year, as water shortages and high production costs have limited domestic output.
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