Thailand’s Ministry of Energy, on Tuesday, urged motorists to use bio-diesel B10 and B20 to curb aggravating haze currently gripping the country.

According to the ministry’s Department of Energy Business, using bio-diesel B10 and B20 will go a long way towards reducing smog by 3.5 to 25 per cent.

The Director-General of the department, Nantika Thangsuphanich, said bio-diesel could effectively relieve the air pollution because emission from vehicles cause 70 per cent of particulate matter PM2.5.

B10 could cut PM2.5 by 3.5 to 13.5 per cent.

Thangsuphanich, however, added that B20 could also cut PM2.5 by 20 to 25 per cent.

He explained that the consumption of B10 and B20 helps reduce PM2.5 and supports palm growers.

“In 2020 it will consume about 2 to 2.2 million tons of crude palm oil; that is two-thirds of all yields and help increase the price of raw palm nuts by at least 4 baht per kg.

“Thai oil refineries will invest 50 billion baht (1.64 billion U.S. dollars) to improve the quality standard of their products from Euro 4 to Euro 5.

“The improvement is required to be completed before Jan 1, 2024 to reduce smog.
“Oil consumption this year would increase by 2 percent from last year to 132 million litters a day,“ he said.

However, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration noted that smog levels had worsened in Bangkok with high pollution readings in 34 out of Bangkok’s 50 districts, ranging from 50 to 89 microgrammes per cubic metre of air.

The Thai Government set a safe threshold of 50 micrograms per cubic metre of air.

 

 

NAN