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Saha moves to cut oil use by 1%

21-kW solar-cell projects launched

PITSINEE JITPLEECHEEP & KRISSANA PARNSOONTHORN

The Saha Group, the country's largest consumer-product conglomerate, aims to cut its oil consumption by 1% per year through new energy-conservation and alternative-energy programmes.

The group, which includes more than 300 factories and office operations, in March initiated a pilot solar-cell project at its Sahacogen (Chonburi) plant. The Chinese-made solar cells have been installed on the roofs of Sahacogen's parking lot.

Saha chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana said reducing oil and energy consumption was a key goal for the group.

The 21-kilowatt solar project at Sahacogen has resulted in carbon-dioxide emissions dropping by 19.1 tonnes per year and annual crude oil consumption savings of 10,496 litre per litre.

Mr Boonsithi said the pilot solar project at Sahacogen was a ''good start'', and that the group was looking to implement the solar-cell technology at the other subsidiaries in the group in the future.

Privy Council president Gen Prem Tinsulanonda (right) and Saha Group chairman Boonsithi Chokwatana open the 12th Saha Group Export and Trade Exhibition yesterday at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. — WISIT THAMNGERN

''The solar-cell project will break even within one to two years once we implement it on a wide scale,'' he said. Mr Boonsithi declined to offer financial details on the solar investments.

The Saha Group, with annual sales exceeding 100 billion baht, is also looking at biofuels as an alternative energy source to help reduce its dependence on fossil fuels.

The Sahacogen subsidiary Sahacogen Green is working on ''green'' technologies based on tapioca and corn as energy sources.

Mr Boonsithi suggested that the government make it compulsory for businesses to lower energy consumption every year as this would encourage companies to seriously save energy.

He also added that the nuclear power plant in Thailand was a must as clean energy would benefit the country, which now relied heavily on oil imports.

The group and Japan-based Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the world's leading nuclear power plant operator, are now promoting the necessity of nuclear power in Thailand.

Hiroki Takimoto, manager for nuclear system engineering of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, said the Japanese had learned that a nuclear power plant was very safe and could provide a large amount of energy with less CO2 discharge.

According to Mr Takimoto, there are currently 435 nuclear power plants in operation in 31 countries, including Belgium, China, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan and the United States.

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, along with the Saha Group, will host a seminar on nuclear power plants for the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) on Wednesday to promote understanding on the construction of nuclear power plants based on Japan's technology and safety procedures.

Mr Takimoto said the construction cost for a 600-megawatt nuclear power plant would start from US$1.8 billion.

''Many countries around the world are trying to reduce carbon emissions. And Thai people should be aware of the dilution of CO2 in any business and personal activities such as the reduction of petrol consumption,'' Mr Boonsithi said.

He said the Thai government itself should place on the national agenda an energy-saving target, especially the reduction of petrol consumption.

In another development, the Saha Group affiliate Lion (Thailand) will seek approval from the Commerce Ministry to raise prices of its shampoo and soap after its operating costs have risen by 30-40%.

Boonyarit Mahamonti, managing director of Lion, said the company had already increased the prices of dishwashing liquids and detergents by 10% two months ago in line with the soaring costs.

''Our sales in the first half of this year grew by 11%, lower than expectations. However, we believe the situation will improve in the second half,'' he said, adding that the company expected sales to exceed 8.88 billion baht, up 14% from 2007.

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