New investment to double Bangchak biodiesel output

Thailand-based oil refiner Bangchak Petroleum’s president Anusorn Sangnimnuan says it is set to invest heavily into two biodiesel projects.

Sangimnuan revealed that Bangchak will invest THB1.2 billion (€30.2 million) and double its capacity of pure biodiesel, or methyl ester, to 600,000 litres per day at its Ayutthaya plant.

That move is set to cost THB800 million and the remaining investment will go on building a palm oil crushing facility in Rangsit.

‘Rangsit does not have enough oil palms to warrant a crushing plant currently, but we’ll wait for enough trees to achieve an economy of scale,’ Sangimnuan was quoted as saying. ‘Biodiesel will play a significant part in the government's renewable energy promotion plan, which sets a target of renewable energy contributing 25% of the total energy mix by 2020.’

It is believed that downstream biodiesel production will start in 2013 before commercial operations begin the year after.