Thailand to raise biodiesel output target

Will also introduce new biodiesel blend.

Thailand plans to increase its biodiesel production target to 7.3 million liters per day by 2021 compared to an earlier target of 5.9 million liters per day under its Alternative Energy Development Plan (2012-2021. Thailand's current biodiesel production is about 2.8 million liters per day.

Plans to boost Thailand’s biodiesel production target comes as the energy ministry said its target is to roll-out B10 nationwide by 2019. The new blend consists of 10% palm-oil based biodiesel and 90% diesel.

Thailand currently has B5 biodiesel in place, where diesel sold at the pump is blended with 5% palm methyl ester. The government is aiming to market B7 in January 2014.

Plans to ramp-up biodiesel production comes after the government last month said it was reducing its production target for advanced biofuels to 3 million liters per day by 2021, from an earlier target of 25 million liters per day.