General
Thai Sugarcane Industry Expands Role in Sustainable Energy
Mitr Phol Group is leveraging sugarcane to produce ethanol and biomass electricity, aiming to reduce Thailand's reliance on imported fossil fuels.
According to a report by Khaosod Online, the Mitr Phol Group is expanding the industrial utility of sugarcane beyond food production. Under the initiative 'Sugarcane Energizes the World,' the company is processing molasses into high-quality ethanol, which is blended into gasohol to reduce vehicle emissions. Currently, the group operates as the largest ethanol producer in ASEAN, with an annual capacity of 500 million liters, reportedly reducing national refined oil imports by 350 million liters per year.
For residents and travelers in Thailand, this development signifies a shift toward locally sourced, sustainable energy. The group also operates 22 biomass power plants with a total capacity of over 700 megawatts, supplying electricity to industrial and residential sectors. This effort is credited with reducing fossil fuel imports by over 3 billion units annually. Looking ahead, the company is exploring the production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and raw materials for the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
While these figures highlight the current scale of production and environmental impact, the long-term feasibility of scaling SAF production and the specific timeline for its commercial integration into the Thai aviation sector remain to be confirmed.