Thailand's total energy expenditure is expected to edge down to 16-17% of gross domestic product (GDP) in the next three years from 18-19% thanks to greater energy-saving measures in the transport sector.
Thibodee Harnprasert, chairman of the logistics and transport management (LTM) panel of the Federation of Thai Industries, said the transport sector has been slow in implementing energy-saving and energy-efficiency programmes.
Some 37% of energy usage is consumed by the transport sector, said Mr Thibodee.
Compared with developed economies, Thailand's energy cost to GDP is high, reflecting inefficient fuel consumption over the last two decades.
For example, Japan spends 7% of GDP on energy, he said.
To encourage greater energy saving in the sector, the FTI agreed to offer free software to transport operators offering guidelines on fuel-saving techniques, smart logistics management and driving practices. The software is expected to be available by the end of this year, he said.
The LTM panel has joined with the Energy Policy and Planning Office to finance the programme, in which 150 logistics experts will advise FTI transport members on how to manage logistics efficiently.
The LTM panel started to provide energy management services to transport businesses in 2008, but so far only 234 out of 340,000 operators have taken part.
The free software will push the vast majority of transport operators to practise energy saving, said Mr Thibodee.