Project News

On June 22, 2022, the 4th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) Meeting was held online between Thailand and Japan. Twenty-six delegates were invited from JICA, Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA), Japan Science Technology Agency (JST) and the Project team members.

The Project started in August 2017. For the past two years, the Project's activities had been greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has faced many restrictions, which have caused progress to be delayed. Now that the project period has been extended by one year, until August 2023, there is a strong determination to accomplish the Project's outputs.

During the meeting, the Project team reported on its progress, major achievements and future plans. Even though operation tests at the pilot plant in Saraburi have not been possible due to travel restrictions under the COVID-19 controls, the Project members have conducted research in laboratories and developed catalyst technologies, conducted Life Cycle Assessments (LCA) and compiled academic papers utilizing the existing data for clean fuel from biomass. The Project's achievements are the results of a trusting relationship between the Japanese and the Thai project members, who have found solutions to various issues.

The Japanese researchers are now able to come to Thailand, so the Project will resume operation tests next week to produce bio-methanol using the syngas produced in 2019. The meeting ended with the Project members expressing their determination to continue working together to complete the Project.

Chaired by Prof. Tharapong Vitidsant