BANGKOK, Jan 28 — The authorities supervising Thailand's petroleum concessionaires has established procedures to protect the national interest and can ensure transparency in bidding for such concessions, according to Permanent Secretary for Energy Areepong Bhoocha-Oom.
He responded to the National Reform Council's call for to review the 21st round of petroleum concession bids by the Energy Ministry.
Mr Areepong said he was willing to listen to opinions but he asserted that the concession system already included efficient supervisory procedures to fully protect the national interest.
He demonstrated the procedures to reporters at the Plathong Field in the Gulf of Thailand. Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production Ltd and PTT Exploration and Production Plc operate the biggest petroleum field in the gulf, where natural gas and crude oil are supplied to all domestic gas separation facilities and oil refineries.
Puangthip Silpasart, director-general of the Department of Mineral Fuels, said if the 21st round of petroleum concession bids is postponed, the country might have to import expensive liquefied natural gas and that would raise electricity fees.
She said that gas deposits at existing fields were falling. (MCOT online news)
