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Biodiesel Yuthachai of Thailand has invented a home-grown alternative to expensive imported diesel, a biodiesel derived from vegetable oil. Biodiesel is winning political backing in Thailand because it uses coconut and palm oil, both of which are in price slumps, and it limits the reliance on overseas petroleum source, which have become increasingly expensive. Yuthachai, 56, has patented his coconut-oil fuel-making process. He developed his biodiesel 18 years ago, using knowledge he gained from working on a plantation and fixing farm machinery. He now sells his fuel at service stations, but refuses to sell his patent, despite attractive offers from overseas oil firms. He is determined to retain control of his formula and keep it accessible to farmers, so they can make their own fuel. There are several formulations of biodiesel, but Yuthachai's is one of the most basic, using 20 parts crude coconut oil to one part kerosene. It requires only simple, affordable technology to make and works in unmodified, slow-running engines. Despite the public interest in biodiesel, the government has been cautious about Yuthachai's fuel. Since there is currently no regulatory system for vegetable-oil fuels, Yuthachai's fuel cannot be used in regular vehicles. But farmers and ferry operators are more enthusiastic, buying 700,000 liters a day of biodiesel made from crude vegetable oils to run farm machines and boats. Demand is growing: A liter of biodiesel is 4—6 US cents cheaper than diesel. According to some scientists, the biodiesel produced from crude coconut oil may not run through engines as easily as diesel, and fatty-acid deposits can damage engines in the long run. A solution may soon come from using waste cooking oil. An experimental biodiesel plant to refine the waste oil is being built in Thailand. The plant will show the biodiesel-making potential of 60,000 tonnes of waste cooking oil that Bangkok generates daily. Other Asian countries have been researching biodiesel—Malaysia, and the Philippines for 20 years—but Thailand is the first country to have public policy supporting its commercialization. That trend looks like continuing, with the government in talks with a U. S. company to build a more advanced plant in Thailand. Until that's working, homegrown biodiesels will help boost the fortunes of struggling Thais. |