Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry will terminate its purple oil project and instead shift to importation of green oil from offshore

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is preparing to terminate its purple oil project and will propose to the Cabinet to instead import green oil from mid-sea outlets and sell it to small fishing vessels.

Agriculture Minister Sudarat Keyuraphan (สุดารัตน์ เกยุราพันธ์) said the ministry's subsidization of diesel price for fishermen will end on March 7th. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Energy have agreed not to extend the time period of the scheme but will instead propose that the Cabinet allow importation of "green oil", the diesel sold about 12-24 nautical miles offshore normally used for large vessels, to sell to small fishing vessels. The government would collect excise tax on the oil. However, such imports will be limited to about 850 million liters per year.

The price of the diesel, after tax, would still be about 2 baht lower than the average price.

As for concerns that the measure would contribute to an influx of illegal oil, Khunying Sudarat said Energy Policy and Planning Office Director Metta Banturngsuk (เมตตา บันเทิงสุข) gave her assurances that this measure would allow for better control over oil smuggling, due to the green color of the oil which will allow ease in inspection.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 10 Febuary 2006

Darn it - my car is coloured grey, so can't run on green/purple oil

Reaches for the purple paint-can !