AIT partners with PEA for staff upgrade

PEA will provide Bt27 million for 10 staff per year to study in the energy field and cooperate in research and technology development and transfer spin-offs. AIT will support partial tuition fees of up to Bt13.44 million. In a statement, PEA said the tie-up forms a major part of its effort to develop the skills of its employees to improve the implementation of its energy services, and to work in international environments by engaging in high-level research and development. PEA will receive the outputs of all student research. - The Nation

Songkhla fishing boats ask for NGV refitting

Owners of 450 fishing boats in Songkhla have approached the Fishery Department for low-interest funds for NGV retrofitting. In the first year, they would be exempted from interest and in the second year charged 1 per cent per year.

Songkhla's fishery official Phit Nopparat said with greater demand, an offshore gas tank could be erected for fishermen. He noted that over 60 per cent of fishing boats in the province have stopped operations, some adopting on-and-off business following soaring oil prices. - The Nation

FTI opposes pegging LPG to world price

The Federation of Thai Industries has opposed the Energy Ministry's plan to base the domestic liquefied petroleum gas price on the world price, citing that this would affect industrial manufacturing costs and consumers.

Vice chairman Thanit Sorat noted that most industrial users, who consume LPG are small and medium-sized. He believes that the ministry will slightly raise LPG prices next month.

The Energy Business Department expects LPG demand in the industrial sector to rise 16.78 per cent on year to 58.58 million kg, in the transport sector by 11.5 per cent to 53.13 million kg, and households by 6.71 per cent to 167.57 million kg. - The Nation