| Energy credit cards set for launch on December, 1 |
The Energy Policy Administration Committee yesterday approved the governments energy credit-card scheme, set for launch on December 1.
More than 150,000 cards will be issued to drivers of public vehicles such as tuk-tuks, taxis and public vans for filling up on natural gas for vehicles (NGV) at more than 200 stations in Greater Bangkok, according to the statement from the committee released after its meeting.
Each card contains Bt3,000 in credit, good for one month. and extra purchases must be settled in cash.
Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said after chairing the meeting that to finance this scheme, fuel retailers would contribute an additional amount to the Oil Fund, starting at Bt0.50 per kilogram from January 16-31.
The rate will be raised three times, each by Bt0.50, in February and April. The May-December rate is set at Bt2. "With contributions from fuel retailers, the Oil Fund's NGV subsidies will plunge from Bt5.8 billion to Bt800 million next year," he said.
NGV discounts will stay until December 31,,2015. The scheme is one of the governments urgent policies to help reduce operating costs, driven by higher fuel prices and inflation.
The meeting also agreed on reducing the contribution of gasohol 95 to the Oil Fund by Bt1.20 per litre from Bt1.40 to 20 satang -which will make gasohol 95 cheaper at the pump than 91-octane petrol.
"This is to promote more consumption of gasohol 95," Pichai said.
This would also increase demand for ethanol to 1.14 million litres a day from Bt1.14 million litres a day in September, he added.
Gasohol 95 is a 9:1 mix of 95-octane petrol and ethanol.
September, 4 2011
The Nation
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