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[pf] should Minnesota have a king like Bhumipol Adulyadej of Thailand? by David MacClement 21 June 2001 20:57 UTC |
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· I've added this to my news compilation, at: http://davd.tripod.com/GrRR-010608_titles.html#11040 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=11040&newsDate=1-Jun-2001 starts: FEATURE - Thai king promotes home-grown green palm fuels -------------------------------------------------------- THAILAND: June 1, 2001 BANGKOK - Portraits of Thailand's king, already adorning almost every building in the country, could soon be helping to sell cheap, clean fuel at Thai gasoline stations. When King Bhumipol Adulyadej _personally_patented_a_palm_oil_formula_ at the beginning of May, many observers speculated a clean fuel craze could sweep Thailand. High oil prices and the lingering effects of an economic crisis were already persuading many Thais to explore palm oil, coconut oil and ethanol as cheap alternatives to diesel. But the highly revered king's stamp of approval could turn royal palm oil pumps into reality, green campaigners say. "This is definitely a positive move," said Jiragorn Gajaseni, chief executive director of Greenpeace Thailand. "Biodiesel hasn't been promoted by the government or other agencies, which are focusing on fossil fuels. With the king's interest, we will see much more emphasis on clean energies." Palm oil is extracted from the yellow fruit of the palm tree, which grows abundantly in countries near the equator such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Colombia and Nigeria. The oil is used mostly for cooking and making margarine and cosmetics. But the state-run Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), which has been conducting tests for the king, says palm oil, when mixed with diesel, can also power vehicles. MAKE IT YOURSELF According to Sawang Boonyasuwat, executive director of the PTT Research and Technology Institute, with little regulation over what people put in their engines, the Thai public can easily copy the cost-saving formula. "Crude palm oil prices are about 8 baht (17 cents) at the moment, while diesel is 15 baht per litre, so this will be widely used because it's cheap, and people can make the fuel themselves," Sawang said. "But we have to advise the public on the right formula to use." Sawang said research found a formula of one part crude palm oil to nine parts diesel did no harm to engine performance. If purified palm oil was used, its share in the mix could be increased to 30 percent. Some researchers say the petroleum industry is underplaying the benefits of palm oil in order to protect its own fossil fuel interests. "Many people in southern Thailand have been using 60 percent palm oil mixtures for years in factory engines and vehicles," said Chatchawal Wat-Aksorn, an independent researcher with links to the king's alternative fuel projects. ... Malaysia, which accounts for more than half of the world's palm oil production, and Indonesia are also developing palm oil fuel. Sweden, Brazil, Australia, Canada and Mexico are using ethanol, which can be produced from cane sugar, and palm and coconut trees. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - sent on by David. (David MacClement) davd@ihug.co.nz http://www.geocities.com/davd.geo/index.html#top ************************************************ ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://igc.topica.com/u/?aVxifP.aVx3Cb Or send an email To: positive-futures-unsubscribe@igc.topica.com This email was sent to: archive+pfvs@csf.colorado.edu T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
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