Thailand cuts its reliance on oil imports

摘要

Singapore—Thailand has sharply reduced its reliance on imported refined oil products as consumers have switched to using indige- nously sourced alternatives such as natural gas, ethanol-blended gasoline (gasohol), biodiesel and natural gas for vehicles. Over the January to October period of 2008, Thailand imported 412.5 million liters (around 2.6 million barrels) of oil products, down 46.3% from 769.3 million liters in the same 10 months last year, according to data released this week by the Energy Policy and Planning Office. Imports were down a whop- ping 71% compared with the corresponding period in 2006, when the country’s alternative fuels policy was just taking off.