Bangchak indicates ethanol producers' claim to halt their production is a tactic for negotiation

Senior Executive Vice President of the Bangchak Petroleum Public Company Limited Manoon Siriwan (มนุญ ศิริวรรณ) has indicated that the case where ethanol producers threaten to stop producing ethanol is only a strategy of the negotiation. However, he is confident that it will not affect the plan to cancel the distribution of benzene 95 in the beginning of next year.

Ethanol producers have called on fuel dealers such as PTT, Shell, and Bangchak to raise the price of ethanol from 19 baht to 23 baht per liter, or otherwise, they would cease its operation. However, Mr. Manoon said that ethanol producers would like to increase its prices as the ethanol price in the world market has slightly increased.

He said that fuel dealers and ethanol producers are negotiating to find the most appropriate price. The resolution is expected to issue within this month. Besides, oil dealers are planning to slow down their gasohol 95 station expansion, to prevent ethanol shortage in the future.

Mr. Manoon affirmed that the supply of ethanol is still adequate for producing gasohol 95.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 13 March 2006

Didn't they negotiate "minor" details like price, before they started marketing?