Energy Ministry plans to ban gasohol 91 in 2018
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The Energy Ministry has said it will ban the sale of gasohol 91 from January 1, 2018, in order to lower overall administrative costs under the Oil Plan, while refineries may have to invest Bt10 billion each so as to produce only gasohol 95.
Witoon Kulcharoenwirat, director-general of the ministry’s Department of Energy Business, said refineries accepted the ban on the sale of gasohol 91 in a discussion on Thursday, though they voiced concerns over the risk of a shortage of regular fuels.
The department is ready to offer assistance like reducing import duty, he said.
“Among Thailand’s six refineries, Bangchak Petroleum plans to change its standard fuel type to [gasohol] 95. Based on a 20-year payback period, costs will rise 2 satang per litre. It’s very low and should not be a burden on users,” Witoon said.
He added that the department was planning to propose that officials from the Energy Ministry talk to their counterparts at the Finance Ministry about raising the tax on premium gasohol 95 and premium diesel to Bt10 per litre, or Bt4 higher than the current levy.
