Thailand: DOEB urges early finish to sales of gasohol 91

Thailand: DOEB urges early finish to sales of gasohol 91

The removal of gasohol 91 at retail petrol stations is expected to happen
earlier than scheduled -- in 2021 -- to cut operating costs for fuel
retailers, says the Department of Energy Business (DOEB).

Witoon Kulchareonwirat, director-general of the DOEB, said the agency will
soon propose the accelerated move to energy policymakers seeking ways to
lower the price of gasohol 95 to the same level or below the retail price of
gasohol 91.

He said policymakers want to maintain the sale of gasohol 95 because its
higher octane is compatible with more types of cars than gasohol 91.

Removing gasohol 91 will reduce the number of pumps at petrol stations,
cutting operating costs for fuel retailers, Mr Witoon said.

There are three types of petrol available in Thailand's retail market:
unleaded gasoline 95 (ULG95), which will remain in the market for supercars
and motorists with special requirements; gasohol 95; and gasohol 91.

After the change, there will be only ULG95 and gasohol 95, Mr Witoon said.

Over the longer term, gasohol 95 is to be phased out by 2027, leaving the
Thai petrol market with only biofuel E20 and E85.

Mr Witoon said the removal of gasohol 91 and gasohol 95 in the future will
help push demand for E20 and E85, tripling sales to 25.4 million litres per
day.

He said policymakers will also widen the price gap between gasohol 95 and
E20, exceeding the current two-baht-per-litre span, to encourage motorists
to switch to biofuels.

The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in global markets has increased
sharply because of the heavy storms and hurricanes that hit the US and Latin
America, Mr Witoon said.

Rising LPG prices should encourage motorists to switch to petrol, he said.

The benchmark price of propane in September was US$514 (17,000 baht) per
tonne, up almost $100 from a few months ago.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/transport/1327543/doeb-urges-early-finish-to
-sales-of-gasohol-91

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com