Gas to top PM agenda
Natural-gas concessions will top the agenda on caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra's one-day trip to Cambodia on Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office said yesterday.
The high-level delegation travelling with Thaksin will include caretaker Foreign Minister Kantathi Suphamongkhon, caretaker Transport Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal and caretaker Energy Minister Viset Choopiban, said PM Office deputy spokesperson Danuporn Punnakan. The two sides will discuss the sharing of output from a potential natural-gas field in the Gulf of Thailand known as the Joint Development Area (JDA), Danuporn said. Initial discussions have been held but no final resolution has been reached. While gas output from the centre of the JDA is to be shared equally, Thailand would like output from the part of the JDA close to its territory shared 90:10. Cambodia is pressing for a 60:40 sharing ratio, Danuporn said. He said Thaksin would like to see the issue settled as soon as possible so that PTT Exploration and Production Plc could start surveying and drilling. The delegation will also discuss a Bt1.3-billion loan for Cambodia to build Highway 67, which will link Sa-ngam, Alongweng and Siem Reap. Once completed, the route will benefit both countries. Cambodia also plans to buy electricity from Thailand, Danuporn said.
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