The potential of palm oil production as a pathway to energy security in Thailand

This paper presents an analysis of the potential of palm oil production as a pathway to achieve the objectives of the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) of Thailand. The current and anticipated demands for domestic edible cooking palm oil consumption in Thailand, along with the demand for other marginal usages, are analyzed using a population-based model, while the palm oil needed to achieve the palm oil-based biodiesel production targets are set in the AEDP. Three scenarios are studied, i.e. base case, and with 10% variations. The anticipated demand for palm oil is transposed to surface areas needed to satisfy the total demand of palm oil. The three major characteristics for the selection of sites consist of topography (slope; elevation above mean sea level), climate (annual mean temperature, rainfall and sunshine hours; orientation), and soil characteristics (presence of clay loam and clay; depth of soil layer). The maps of suitable sites for new potential palm tree plantations are overlaid with the maps of current land use, on which prohibited and constrained zones are specifically excluded. Assuming average yields of 17%, results show that a total area of 17,800 km(2) would be necessary for the production of the palm oil to achieve the 2036 AEDP energy objectives, while continuing to supply the necessary edible cooking palm oil and supplying the marginal usages.