Renewable-energy target increased

To help achieve this, the ministry may extend the low-tariff window for those producing power from solar energy. If they apply before the year's end, power producers can get the special tariff of Bt8 per unit for 10 years. - The Nation

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Flying into the red

Airline members of the International Air Transport Association expect to lose US$2.3 billion (Bt75 billion) this year, based on the consensus oil price of $106.5 per barrel of Brent crude.

The industry's fuel bill is expected to be $176 billion, or 34 per cent of operating costs. It was $136 billion in 2006 and $40 billion in 2002, the latter representing 13 per cent of costs.

The predicted loss is a huge swing of $6.8 billion from the previously forecast industry profit of $4.5 billion, which was announced in March and was based on an average oil price of $86. - The Nation

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Adieu, paper tickets

The International Air Transport Association has bid farewell to paper tickets on the eve of the industry's conversion to 100-per-cent electronic ticketing.

While IATA will no longer issue paper tickets, those issued by travel agents before last Sunday remain valid for travel under the conditions they were purchased. Paper tickets may still be provided by an airline from its own offices or a travel agent in the United States, although it is anticipated the volume will be very low.

To complete the conversion, the IATA has contacted 60,000 travel agents in more than 200 countries to collect the remaining unused tickets - some 32 million. These will be destroyed and recycled. - The Nation

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Low-cost fertiliser

The Internal Trade Department, together with nine major fertiliser distributors, has launched a low-cost fertiliser project to help farmers.

The distributors have agreed to sell 153,500 tonnes of fertiliser for between Bt200 and Bt1,000 per tonne. Since April, the department has supplied 25,000 tonnes of cheap fertiliser. - The Nation

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High hopes at TTM+

About 400 representatives from traditional markets and key emerging markets with high outbound potential are expected to attend the Thailand Travel Mart Plus (TTM+) 2008 from Thursday to Sunday, the country's largest business-to-business annual travel mart.

These buyers are carefully matched in appointments with more than 400 sellers from Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region countries, according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand. - The Nation