Thai Ex-Im banks invests in MFC new energy fund, focused on solar, biomass, biofuel projects

In Thailand, the Export-Import Bank of Thailand plans to invest $3.2 million in the MFC Asset Management new energy fund, focused on renewable energy production. The MFC Energy Fund is an open-ended, 10-year fund with $128 million raised from 11 financial institutions. The Fund is investing in solar, biodiesel, biomass and ethanol projects, and could be expanded to more than $500 million.

Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop recently announced a 15-year Renewable Energy Development Plan that will detail incentives and tax breaks for ethanol, biodiesel, wind and solar power. Lt Gen Poonpirom said that ethanol would be initially targeted for export, and biodiesel built up through increased palm cultivation over a 6-year period. Thailand produces 125 Mgy of ethanol at nine plants, with annual consumption at 67 Mgy. The plans calls for expansion of production capacity by 220 Mgy this year, and the introduction of a B10 standard this year.

Last month, former Thai Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said that biofuels sales would increase in 2008 to $469 million from $157 million in 2007. He said that the cost of oil imports have fallen 10% as a result of biofuel usage and a stronger currency, adding that gasoline would be replaced by E10 and E20 blends by 2012.

Thai biofuel demand has increased more than 100 percent for 2007; the spur in biofuels sales comes not only from the introduction on E20, but also the implementation of a B2 mandate. Demand is so brisk that major oil traders may be required to establish mandatory strategic reserves of ethanol and biodiesel in addition to conventional fossil fuels.

The Thai Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry is promoting sugarcane production for ethanol in a the cadmium-contaminated Mae Sot district of Tak, where food crops have been banned for health safety reasons. The Mae Sot Clean Energy plant, a joint venture between Padaeng Industry, Thai Oil and Petrogreen, will be completed in 2008 to produce sugarcane ethanol in the district.

To coordinate these disparate developments, last month the Thai government announced the establishment of a new, national biofuels organization, which will include members of the government, industry, and private citizens. The Energy Ministry began coordination talks with the Commerce and Agriculture ministries, as well as representatives of universities, farmers, car makers and oil retailers. A 21-member panel will supervise policy while a 13-member panel will supervise management of biofuels development from field to wheels. $3 million in palm oil taxes will be used to support the committees.

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