THAILAND: Push for bioplastics industry

Nuttachat Charuchinda, chief operations officer for PTT's downstream petroleum business group, said on 26 March 2013 that bioplastic production required high investment and entailed a higher production cost than conventional plastic. It is therefore important that consumption of bioplastic products be strongly promoted.

PTT is developing the Asia Industrial Estate in Rayong, which will become its base for bioplastic production, as well as that of its partners. The conglomerate is preparing the area and constructing the utilities, buildings, joint labs and water-treatment system, all for the planned investment of PTTMCC Biochem at the location. The estate is expected to be up and running in the middle of next year.

PTTMCC is a 50:50 joint venture between PTT and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical for the production of bio-succinic acid and polybutylene-succinate plastic pellets from sugar.

Nuttachat said foreign companies had expressed interest in partnering PTT in the bioplastics arena, and they planned to establish plants in the Asia Industrial Estate. The zone occupies 1,500 rai (240 hectares) and the cost of constructing the buildings and utilities is Bt1.3 billion. The estate is aimed mainly at serving the PTT group, including the possible production of polylactic acid (PLA) by NatureWorks, in which PTT owns a 50 % stake.

Source: Daily "The Nation", Bangkok; 27 Mar 2013

(Syed Rashid Ali, Karachi, Pakistan)