Poonpirom to leave Energy Ministry

Suvat and Poonpirom

She said she is not a politician. "I'm wife of a politician," said Poonpirom. She is wife of Suwat, former executive member of now-defunct Thai Rak Thai party.

To replace her in the position is expected to be Dr Wannarat Charnnukul, chairman of House Committee on Energy.

Somchai, who is elected to the premiership in the Parliament last week, is forming his cabinet line up.

Poonpirom became acting energy minister on February 16. She called it quit after seven months in services, citing that she has achieved some success at the Energy Ministry and crises have been eased.

"I took the post when Thailand was beleaguered by political and economic crisis, plus the high oil prices. I have done my best as the minister, having set the policies on liquefied petroleum gas, the promotion of natural gas for vehicles, power price management and the promotion of alternative fuels," she said, on the sidelines of the ministry's seminar on "Fuel Options for Power Generation in Asean.

While citing that the LPG pricing restructuring is ready for the new minister's consideration, she is hopeful that the mapped-out policies would not be amended given that the ministry remains under the Ruam Jai Thai Chart Pattana Party.