Ban on octane-91 petrol starts in Oct, 2012
Fuel stations nationwide will stop selling octane-91 petrol from Oct 1, 2012 onwards, in response to the government's policy to promote alternative fuel.
Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said after the National Energy Policy Council meeting today that the abolition would raise gasohol consumption while ethanol demand from 1.2 million litres a day to 2 million litres.
In August, octane-91 petrol consumption, at 7.7 million litres a day, accounted for 38 per cent of total petrol consumption.
The NEPC also approved a cut in free electricity units to poor households from 90 units a month to 50 units. This would reduce the number of eligible households from 7 million to 4.37 million and the annual cost from Bt13.6 billion to Bt3.5 billion. Industries and building owners' burden for this will be cut sharply from 12 satang per unit to 3 satang.
The council also approved the Energy Ministry's flood-rehabilitation efforts, which would demand funding of Bt10 billion from the Energy Conservation Fund. The fund would be used to assist affected individuals and industries and finance the installation of energy-saving equipment. The fund would outline the assistance measures, which should be implemented in the 2012 fiscal year.
