Thailand Successfully Produces Bagasse-Based Ethanol With Enzymes
The Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB), in association with Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), hosted a seminar on the “Model Project for Bio-ethanol Production from Bagasse using Enzyme Method in Thailand,” a collaboration between the Thai and Japanese governments under the Green Partnership Program (GPP). The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Somsak Jantararoungtong, OCSB Secretariat and representative of Thailand’s governmental sector, and an opening remark and the objectives of the seminar were delivered by a representative of Thailand’s industrial entrepreneurs Dr. Ukrit Assadatorn from Thai Roong Ruang Energy and two representatives from Japan, Mr. Munehiko Tsuchiya from NEDO and Mr. Kazuo Nakajima from TSK. Organized at The Emerald Hotel in Ratchada, Bangkok, on June 1, 2017, the seminar consisted of the following special lectures:
1) Introduction on “NEDO’s Cooperation Projects in Thailand” by Dr. Tsuyoshi Suzuki, Project Manager of NEDO
2) Presentation on “Model Project for Bio-ethanol Production from Bagasse using Enzyme Method in Thailand” by Mr. Tomoki Hayakawa, Prime Engineer of TSK
3) Presentation on “Development of Multipurpose Sugarcane with High-fiber Content in Thailand”) by Dr. Shotaro Ando, Project Leader of JIRCAS
4) Presentation on “Incentives for Investment in Bagasse-based Bioethanol Production” by BOI
Later on June 2, 2017, the participants traveled to Thai Roong Ruang Energy Co., Ltd., in Saraburi to visit Thailand’s model plant for bagasse-based bioethanol production using enzymes. Mr. Somsak Jantararoungtong, OCSB Secretariat and NEDO delegates from Japan were welcomed by Dr. Ukrit Assadatorn, CEO of Thai Roong Ruang Energy Co., Ltd.
Thai Roong Ruang Energy’s ethanol plant has been chosen by NEDO as a model plant for the demonstration of bagasse-based bioethanol production using enzymes in Thailand. The technology employed at this plant converts cellulose into sugar and sugar into ethanol in a single step and requires low costs, making it a perfect model for bioethanol production from bagasse.