Cabinet asked to approve natural gas deal with Myanmar

BANGKOK, 28 December 2009 (NNT) – The Energy Policy and Planning Committee has agreed to purchase natural gas from Myanmar’s Block M9. The purchase deal is to be proposed to the Cabinet tomorrow.

Speaking after the Energy Policy and Planning Committee’s meeting, Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul said the deal would allow the import of natural gas from Block M9 in the Gulf of Martaban in Myanmar. The source could commercially produce over 300 million cubic feet of gas per day, of which 60 million cubic feet are for domestic use. The rest are to be supplied to Thailand starting in 2013.

Moreover, the committee also approved an MOU to purchase electricity from Nam Ngum 3 Hydropower Project of Laos. The project has a production capacity of 440 megawatts. The MoU is expected to be signed by January 2010 after it is approved by the Ministerial Council.