Bangkok, Thailand -- Thailand will introduce E85 gasohol in the third quarter of this year, a full three years ahead of earlier plans, Finance Minister Surapong Suebwonglee declared yesterday. Authorities yesterday also told local oil refineries they must accept lower margins on diesel fuel in order to help finance a new stabilisation fund.
The announcements came in light of continuing gains in world oil prices, which topped $135 a barrel earlier this week but were trading around $132 in London markets yesterday.
Ethanol production, mostly from molasses and cassava, has jumped as authorities look to reduce the country's dependence on imported crude oil.
E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% premium petrol. E10, containing 10% ethanol, is already widely used in the local market. Authorities introduced E20 this year as local automakers began to offer E20-compatible cars.
It is not clear whether the country could produce enough ethanol to meet demand for E85 fuel.
''Accelerating the rollout of E85 ... is one of a package of new measures that we will adopt to help address the energy crisis,'' Dr Surapong said.
He said economic ministers would review details of the new energy package on Monday.
''E85 will help reduce fuel costs for consumers. Pump prices will be cheaper than standard petrol by as much as 10 baht per litre,'' he said.
Dr Surapong said world automakers already had developed E85-compatible engines overseas, and they could be imported into the country for local use. Carmakers with domestic production facilities could also open new lines to produce E85-compatible cars.
''We need to create new options for the public in using fuel, whether it be NGV (natural gas for vehicles), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or gasohol,'' Dr Surapong said.
Currently only Volvo offers E85- compatible cars in the local market, with its C30 sedan launched last year.
Pornchai Rujiprapa, the permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry, said the early introduction of E85 should not be a problem, as demand was likely to be low in the early stages.
''Very few cars can run on E85, so it shouldn't be a problem. If we are to encourage motorists to use E85, the automakers need to be ready as well,'' he said.
The listed refiner and retailer Bangchak Petroleum late last year began a pilot test of E85 fuel and is currently gearing up for a commercial launch.
Oil refineries, meanwhile, were told yesterday to accept lower margins on diesel, with the savings used to help finance a ''crisis management'' fund.
Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop said refineries were enjoying huge margins due to high oil prices.
The refineries, largely controlled by the majority state-owned PTT Plc, should help finance a new management fund using part of their refining profits, she said. No details on the policy or fund was announced.
Margins between Dubai crude prices and Singapore diesel prices rose to US$44 per barrel on Thursday, compared with an average $35 in April. Gross refining margins averaged $5 to $6 per barrel in April.
Lt-Gen Poonpirom said margins for refineries differed based on their technology and type of refined oil produced.
But she said the policy would cover Bangchak, Thai Oil Plc, PTT Aromatics and Refinery, and IRPC, which collectively account for 70% of the country's refining capacity of 995,000 barrels a day. Executives of the four companies will meet with the minister on Monday.''This is not market intervention. [The government] is asking for help for the poor amid high oil rice volatility,'' Lt Gen Poonpirom added.
Manoon Siriwan, a local energy expert, said margins were not unreasonably high, as they offset energy companies' losses from their sales of subsidised LPG and low-margin fuel oil.
The firms also used their refining profits to help offset losses from retail operations, he added.
[Source : Bangkok Post 24/05/2008]
The announcements came in light of continuing gains in world oil prices, which topped $135 a barrel earlier this week but were trading around $132 in London markets yesterday.
Ethanol production, mostly from molasses and cassava, has jumped as authorities look to reduce the country's dependence on imported crude oil.
E85 is a blend of 85% ethanol and 15% premium petrol. E10, containing 10% ethanol, is already widely used in the local market. Authorities introduced E20 this year as local automakers began to offer E20-compatible cars.
It is not clear whether the country could produce enough ethanol to meet demand for E85 fuel.
''Accelerating the rollout of E85 ... is one of a package of new measures that we will adopt to help address the energy crisis,'' Dr Surapong said.
He said economic ministers would review details of the new energy package on Monday.
''E85 will help reduce fuel costs for consumers. Pump prices will be cheaper than standard petrol by as much as 10 baht per litre,'' he said.
Dr Surapong said world automakers already had developed E85-compatible engines overseas, and they could be imported into the country for local use. Carmakers with domestic production facilities could also open new lines to produce E85-compatible cars.
''We need to create new options for the public in using fuel, whether it be NGV (natural gas for vehicles), LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) or gasohol,'' Dr Surapong said.
Currently only Volvo offers E85- compatible cars in the local market, with its C30 sedan launched last year.
Pornchai Rujiprapa, the permanent secretary of the Energy Ministry, said the early introduction of E85 should not be a problem, as demand was likely to be low in the early stages.
''Very few cars can run on E85, so it shouldn't be a problem. If we are to encourage motorists to use E85, the automakers need to be ready as well,'' he said.
The listed refiner and retailer Bangchak Petroleum late last year began a pilot test of E85 fuel and is currently gearing up for a commercial launch.
Oil refineries, meanwhile, were told yesterday to accept lower margins on diesel, with the savings used to help finance a ''crisis management'' fund.
Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop said refineries were enjoying huge margins due to high oil prices.
The refineries, largely controlled by the majority state-owned PTT Plc, should help finance a new management fund using part of their refining profits, she said. No details on the policy or fund was announced.
Margins between Dubai crude prices and Singapore diesel prices rose to US$44 per barrel on Thursday, compared with an average $35 in April. Gross refining margins averaged $5 to $6 per barrel in April.
Lt-Gen Poonpirom said margins for refineries differed based on their technology and type of refined oil produced.
But she said the policy would cover Bangchak, Thai Oil Plc, PTT Aromatics and Refinery, and IRPC, which collectively account for 70% of the country's refining capacity of 995,000 barrels a day. Executives of the four companies will meet with the minister on Monday.''This is not market intervention. [The government] is asking for help for the poor amid high oil rice volatility,'' Lt Gen Poonpirom added.
Manoon Siriwan, a local energy expert, said margins were not unreasonably high, as they offset energy companies' losses from their sales of subsidised LPG and low-margin fuel oil.
The firms also used their refining profits to help offset losses from retail operations, he added.
[Source : Bangkok Post 24/05/2008]
Seat has revealed their new fourth generation Seat Ibiza to the world for the first time, besides their in-house Seat unveiling at Martorell headquarters, at the Madrid Motor Show in Spain, the marque's home market. The new Ibiza is built on the Volkswagen Group's new platform and allows for the new 'Arrow Design' concept with its simpler yet powerful geometric lines.
The Ibiza IV is all new in every sense of the word and has grown by 99 mm in length, has a 30 mm wider front track width and 33 mm in the rear which allows for larger diameter wheels ranging from 15 inch to 17 inch.
Initially the new Ibiza will have a choice of four engines, three petrol and one diesel. An entry level 1.2 liter 70 hp petrol engine, 1.4 liter 85 hp petrol engine, 1.6 liter 105 hp engine or the 1.9 liter TDI with 105 hp with the range topping 4.5 liter per 100 km fuel economy.
The Subaru World Rally Team ended months of speculation today by confirming its new Impreza World Rally Car will make its WRC debut on the next rally of the series - the Acropolis Rally of Greece.
The new car is based on the most recent variant of the Impreza road car introduced in June 2007. But underneath the all new hatch-back bodyshell it retains the familiar Subaru powertrain of a horizontally-opposed turbocharged engine and symmetrical four-wheel drive system.
Subaru last won a WRC rally on the stages in Mexico 2005 and the team’s legions of fans around the world - not to mention its two drivers - are hoping the new car will herald a return to its rally winning days. Subaru took the FIA WRC manufacturers’ title in 1995, 1996 and 1997 and was the driving force behind three drivers’ title wins; with Colin McRae in 1995, Richard Burns in 2001 and most recently, Petter Solberg in 2003.
“Recently it’s been quite a stressful period for the whole team but I have good confidence that the new car should be reliable and fast,” said Solberg. “The whole package is completely different to the existing car and there are improvements all the way through. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in the Impreza story and personally I feel very proud. I’ve been involved in the project since the car was just a clay model in Japan, so it feels a bit like a baby to me.
Few sports cars are developed specifically for Britain's roads. Those that have been tend to become true 'driver's cars'. Alfa Romeo is planning for the new, limited edition Alfa Romeo Brera S to join those ranks.
Briefed to make the Alfa Romeo Brera S less of a long-distance tourer and more sporty on UK roads, the engineering team at Prodrive developed a unique suspension set-up. Prodrive engineers meticulously experimented with spring rates and ride heights to match the reduced weights of the 2008 model year Alfa Breras. Then followed an extensive damper tuning exercise to achieve the desired ride/handling balance and steering response required by driving enthusiasts in the UK.
To reduce roll and pitch and achieve an even flatter cornering attitude, Prodrive commissioned bespoke Eibach coil springs and Bilstein dampers.
The lighter the wheel, the better it tracks undulations in the road surface without requiring heavy damping to control it. The unsprung weight has been further reduced by the adoption of hollow anti-roll bars and aluminium suspension components from the Factory.
The exhaust has been altered to mirror the shape of the rear lights. Finished with chrome embellishers, they feature a Prodrive logo on the tailpipe exterior. This is just one of several subtle exterior enhancements to the award-winning Alfa Brera, including Prodrive branded front stone deflectors, and a bespoke red 'S' or 'SV6' on the C-pillar.
Inside the 3.2 V6 JTS Alfa Romeo Brera S, changes are more obvious. Not only are the supportive sports seats upholstered in soft black Frau® leather with red stitching, so are the dashboard fascia, door panels, steering wheel and gearlever. The centre console and instruments are faced in a dark finish. This interior can also be specified on the 2.2 JTS version.
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