Biofuels cooperation initiative in the Greater Mekong region
In South-East Asian cooperation speak, Thailand, southern China, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam make up the so-called 'Greater Mekong' region. During a recent seminar on "Investment Opportunities in Bio-Fuel in the Greater Mekong Sub-region," two major international cooperation banks - the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) and Japan's Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) - jointly announced to support Thai private sector investments in biodiesel and ethanol production in the region.
EXIM Bank president Narongchai Akrasanee said the global energy crisis presents an opportunity for Thailand to invest in 'green energy,' and the two banks are particularly keen to support production of liquid biofuels derived from plants such as cassava and sugarcane. Laos and Myanmar are especially promising, he said, because they have ample unused land resources.
Land potential in the countries that make up the Greater Mekong can be read as follows (see Terrastat - potential arable land in hectares / percentage of this potential arable land that is actually in use for food, feed and fibre production):
ethanol :: biodiesel :: biofuels :: sustainability :: South-East Asia :: Greater Mekong :: sugarcane :: cassava :: land resources ::
This type of investment would also help to promote better relations among the GMS countries, Akrasanee added.
The EXIM Bank and JBIC look to support large-scale projects only, since interesting scale-advantages can be obtained but this would require intensive capital, technology and advanced management skills. Eligible applicants must therefor be able to cultivate on at least 1,000 rais (160 hectares/400 acres) of land, with a commitment to lease for a period of 50 years.
EXIM Bank president Narongchai Akrasanee said the global energy crisis presents an opportunity for Thailand to invest in 'green energy,' and the two banks are particularly keen to support production of liquid biofuels derived from plants such as cassava and sugarcane. Laos and Myanmar are especially promising, he said, because they have ample unused land resources.
Land potential in the countries that make up the Greater Mekong can be read as follows (see Terrastat - potential arable land in hectares / percentage of this potential arable land that is actually in use for food, feed and fibre production):
- Cambodia: 12,2 mio - 31.4%
- Laos: 5.9 mio - 15.3%
- Myanmar: 24.5 mio - 41.1%
- Thailand: 32.2 mio - 64.6%
- Vietnam: 11.6 mio - 60.2%
ethanol :: biodiesel :: biofuels :: sustainability :: South-East Asia :: Greater Mekong :: sugarcane :: cassava :: land resources ::
This type of investment would also help to promote better relations among the GMS countries, Akrasanee added.
The EXIM Bank and JBIC look to support large-scale projects only, since interesting scale-advantages can be obtained but this would require intensive capital, technology and advanced management skills. Eligible applicants must therefor be able to cultivate on at least 1,000 rais (160 hectares/400 acres) of land, with a commitment to lease for a period of 50 years.
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