Thai Energy Business delegation

[davidhmtk]

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74850

so the business delegation is making the gas deal, not the Thai PM

[Stavros]

The trip to POM is part of Thailand's quest to partner with other countries to develop the regional natural gas industry and cooperate to the benefit of all.

It would be instructive for folks to peruse the PTT website to understand what they do and their need to increase LNG imports:

http://www.pttplc.com/en/Media-Center/Ne...-4997.aspx


PTT Group joins GASEX 2012 in search of gas industry cooperation in Western Pacific

PTT Group and energy companies from 14 countries in the Western Pacific area are meeting for information exchange on the development of the natural gas industry and in search of business allies at GASEX 2012, a technical conference being held in Indonesia to try to accommodate rising world gas demand. It is expected that, two decades from now, the Asian region would feature the greatest gas demand. This is happening while Thailand is beginning to feel the impact of dwindling gas reserves, which necessitates more LNG imports to add to their long-term energy security.

Mr. Charcrie Buranakanonda, PTT Plc Senior Executive Vice President, Gas Business Unit, said PTT Group, representing national energy companies, is participating in the GASEX 2012 Conference and Exhibition from October 9 to 11, 2012, in Bali, Indonesia. This is a perfect opportunity for Thailand to acquire information and expand gas industry cooperation together with leading energy companies from 14 Western Pacific countries, all of which are focusing on securing LNG supplies to meet steadily rising demand. It is expected that, over the next two decades, natural gas would play a greater role and claim the most strategic spot in the world, next to crude oil. Particularly in Asia, gas demand—led by China, India, and Japan—would top all other regions.

Thailand began its LNG import in 2011 with world market prices as its reference prices. The commodity serves as the country’s reserve energy in view of the constantly rising gas demand and inadequate outputs from domestic sources, while imports from neighboring countries are facing greater limitation. PTT Group’s participation in GASEX 2012 therefore poses an excellent opportunity for Thailand to showcase its capability and preparedness for the search for new gas deposits in foreign countries. As for LNG, the world’s current and future staple energy form, Thailand holds an advantage, thanks to its housing Southeast Asia’s first LNG receiving terminals, apart from being strategically located between key regions.

Participating PTT Group companies consist of PTT Plc, PTT Exploration and Production Plc, and PTT International Co., Ltd. Representing a gathering of natural gas representatives of Western Pacific countries that occurs every other year, GASEX members are found in 15 countries, namely Thailand, Australia, Brunei, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, and Vietnam. Its purpose is to grow cooperation in the development of the economy, energy, and environmental conservation of countries in the Western Pacific area.

[sltibbs]

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74850

so the business delegation is making the gas deal, not the Thai PM

David,

Yes, I love how the article says, "Mr Pongsak says Ms Yingluck is in the country only to develop diplomatic relations with PNG and that her trip has nothing to do with the activities of the energy business delegation accompanying her." So, who was asking questions and why was such a statement from PM Yingluck's office necessary?

Best,

Sam

[Palm]

Thai-PNG technical accord signed

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O'Neill signed an agreement opening a new chapter in relations between the two countries on Monday.

• Published: 25/03/2013 at 04:10 PM
• Newspaper section: breakingnews

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and Papua New Guinean Prime Minister Peter O'Neill at the joint press conference.

Ms Yingluck met with Mr O'Neill and Michael Ogio, Governor-General of the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, on Monday morning at Government House in Port Moresby.

They discussed increased collaboration in various fields.

"I am proud to be the first Thai Prime Minister to visit this country. Our visit reflects the importance we attach to Papua New Guinea, which is a fellow democracy and a country of great potential in the Pacific," Ms Yingluck said.

She said both sides have agreed to explore increased trade in priority areas such as agricultural goods including rice, fisheries products and seafood, and automobile products.

Thai investors were currently interested in energy and renewable energy, food, agriculture, fishery and construction. She brought with her 30 representatives from leading Thai companies in these key sectors to further boost economic relations.

Papa New Guinea and Thailand will consider signing an avoidance of double taxation agreement and Investment promotion and protection agreement to encourage more investments from Thai business, she added.

Ms Yingluck said Thailand will also share its experience in areas such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries and small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The Technical Cooperation Agreement signed today would provide a good framework for the exchange of experience and best practice.

Food safety and diagnostic test kits were given to the government of Papua New Guinea to support capacity-building efforts in public health, she said.

The two prinme ministers agreed that there will be an annual meeting senior officials to ensure a good follow-up. Ms Yingluck also invited Mr O'Neill to visit Thailand in the future."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/lite/breakingnews/342301/thailand-png-bilateral-relations-established

You don't bring 30 representatives including your Energy Minister unless there is some interest in the LNG of PNG.  We know they visited PNG LNG and expressed interest in possible investment in some project(s).  Interesting there was a specific denial on this.  Wonder why that happened?

[jft310]

Palm-The article I read stated the energy delegation was looking into an investment but not the Prime Minister. Please post your source on a specific denial that the energy delegation wasn't interested in an energy investment. Thanks

[Palm]

Here's the article saying they were not interested:

"Thai government denies PM’s PNG visit linked to bid for gas deal

Posted at 03:22 on 25 March, 2013 UTC

Thailand’s government has denied that the Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s visit to Papua New Guinea is a bid to secure a natural gas deal.

Ms Yingluck is on a two day visit to PNG which ends tonight.

The Bangkok Post reports the Thai Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal as denying opposition claims that the Prime Minister’s visit is to follow up business plans her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, discussed there in 2006.

Thaksin had held trade negotiations with the PNG government at the time, however there has not been a gas deal with PNG since then.

Mr Pongsak says Ms Yingluck is in the country only to develop diplomatic relations with PNG and that her trip has nothing to do with the activities of the energy business delegation accompanying her."

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=74850

But here's more color on that; more of a political issue within Thailand linked to something going on years ago.  This states there is interest, though it might be further down the road:

"

Pongsak denies PM's PNG visit linked to Thaksin

• Published: 25 Mar 2013 at 00.00
• Newspaper section: News

PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA : Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal denies Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra's visit to Papua New Guinea is to follow up business plans her brother, former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, discussed there in 2006.

Mr Pongsak's denial came after Sirichoke Sopha, an opposition MP from the Democrat Party, said last Thursday in his Facebook account that Thaksin was interested in oil and gas businesses in Papua New Guinea and was behind Ms Yingluck's trip.

Mr Pongsak admitted Thaksin had visited Papua New Guinea just after the 2006 coup d'etat that had overthrown his government.

The minister said Thaksin had met the leader of Papua New Guinea at that time and the pair held trade negotiations. However, there has not been a natural gas deal with Papua New Guinea since then, he said. Mr Pongsak insisted Ms Yingluck's visit to Papua New Guinea yesterday and today has nothing to do with what Thaksin had discussed.

He said Ms Yingluck was there to develop diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea and her trip had nothing to do with any activity of the energy business delegation that accompanied her.

"Prime Minister Yingluck's visit to Papua New Guinea has nothing to do with Thaksin. Do not link every energy issue with Thaksin. Thaksin has plans for the national interest so he went for trade negotiations.

"I do not think this should be concealed or is any embarrassment because nothing has taken place at a cost to the nation," Mr Pongsak said.

He said any energy deals could be examined because most energy companies were listed and were subject to thorough examination.

Mr Pongsak, who accompanied Ms Yingluck to Papua New Guinea, also said the government is trying to develop good ties with Port Moresby and expects good relations to precede future energy deals involving the Thai private sector. Papua New Guinea has large reserves of natural gas and coal.

On Oct 16, 2009, Thaksin said in his Twitter account that he was in Papua New Guinea and that the country had hefty gold, oil and gas reserves."

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/politics/342192/pongsak-denies-pm-png-visit-linked-to-thaksin

Good relations can happen very quickly.

[jft310]

"He said Ms Yingluck was there to develop diplomatic relations with Papua New Guinea and her trip had nothing to do with any "activity of the energy business delegation" that accompanied her"
I read this differently than you do. Her business had nothing to do with the energy delegation. That means the energy delegation had an interest in energy business development.Other articles posted by tree make this a two headed Thai visit.
One can't deny the" activity of the energy business delegation" comment.

[Palm]

We don't read it any differently. I was pointing out the point of view of the press; not my view. You asked me to give the source of the info. That's what I did. I was one who posted last week that there was energy interest and that the Energy Minister was making the trip and he wouldn't do that unless there was genuine interest in PNG's energy assets.

[jft310]

Oooops see what speed reading does to ya. I will go on record that its tough getting old. But then whats old??? Thanks for your take!! Nice to see we align together again. No surprise here. Later

[Palm]

We're on the same page JFT !