Cabinet launches attack on energy waste

electrical cabinet The Cabinet yesterday approved in principle six energy-saving measures, including widespread use of natural gas in government vehicles, public buses and taxis and a tax cut on E85 gasohol. E85 is a fuel with an 85-per-cent ethanol blend. Deputy spokesperson Suparat Nakbunnam said all government offices would be told to keep air-conditioner temperatures at 26 degrees Celsius and government vehicles to use natural gas. The Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) will replace its fleet with 6,000 natural-gas-for-vehicles (NGV) buses and offer low-priced tickets to students, the elderly and low-income citizens. The Energy Ministry and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand will offer free retrofit services to any of Bangkok's 42,750 taxis that want to modify their engines from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) to NGV ahead of a plan to float the LPG price later this year. PTT will expand the number of NGV gas stations to at least 260 in July. The government expects the number of NGV vehicles to reach 122,370 this year. The Cabinet also approved a proposal to extend the excise tax reduction period for NGV tanks and equipment, as well as NGV vehicles, until 2012. Meanwhile, the Finance, Energy, Agriculture and Industry ministries will come up with a plan to promote E85 gasohol. Excise taxes on E85-compatible vehicles will also be lowered, while E85 service stations will be promoted, said Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop. She said the Energy Conservation Fund would provide Bt2 billion to promote NGV engine retrofits for 20,000 taxis, so that the number of NGV taxis would meet the target of 42,750 by year-end. Poonpirom said another Bt1 billion would be offered as zero-interest loans to households for the purchase of energy-saving electrical appliances.