Manjula Siriwardhana , G.K.C.Opathella,M.K.Jha
Energy field of study,Schoo lof Environment Resources and Development,Asian Institute of Technology,P.O.Box4,KlongLuang,Pathumthani 12120,Thailand
a b s t r a c t
Thailand experiences a great economic and industrial development and is the second larges tenergy consumer in South East Asia.Being a net oil importer,Thai government has declared a renewable energy development programme inorder to securesu stainable development and energy security.Thailand spends more than10%of GDP for energy imports and transport sector accounts for 36% of total final energy consumption of which 50% isdiesel.Diesel marks a huge impact on Thaie conomy.Thai government’s bio-diesel development strategy is to replace 10% of petro-diesel intransport sector by bio-diesel by 2012.The plan is to increase the use of bio-diesel from 365 millionliters in 2007 to 3100 millionliters by 2012.This paper reviews the current status and potential o fbio-diesel inThailand and investigates and discusses the qualities and weaknesses of the proposed road-map.The proposed road-map definitely gives immediate solution fo rsoaring oil prices,but thelong-term economic, environmental and social impacts need to be examined.
