The department claimed ownership by virtue of a Supreme Administrative Court ruling, while Kraisri said that as Egat remained a state enterprise, it should maintain ownership itself. He said the court's ruling to nullify the privatisation process did not oblige Egat to transfer ownership to the state.

Kraisri said Egat's lawyers were now discussing details with the department, and if there were no agreement, Egat would seek the Council of State's help in interpreting the court's ruling.

Port project

Marine Department director-general Tawalyarant Onsira says a group of international join ventures with Chinese connections, CSCEC, PPD, and BBR, is interested in the Pakbara Pier project in Satun. The department will schedule negotiations on investment conditions in October.

He said the group, which constructed the Rama VIII Bridge, has financial support in the form of a loan from the Chinese government 50 billion yuan (Bt238 billion) to invest in any project.

The Pakbara Pier project is a Bt6-billion deep-sea export facility with the capacity to handle three 50,000-tonne ships simultaneously.

Rubber woes

The Thai Industrial Standards Institute (Tisi) yesterday held a workshop on ways to upgrade the country's concentrated-rubber standard so as to maintain world leadership.

Tisi deputy secretary-general Somkid Sangnin said the country risked losing market share to synthetic rubbers.

Last year Thailand exported concentrated rubber worth Bt30.4 billion, up from Bt28.65 billion in 2004.