Ministry of Energy supports conference to
highlight energy strategies agenda for Thailand
Sub-Lieutenant Dr. Prapas Limpabandhu, Vice Minister of
Energy, opened the Intergraph® 2010 Southeast Asia conference in Pattaya on
August 3 with an opening address that focused on the energy strategies
agenda for Thailand.
Sub-Lieutenant Dr. Prapas Limpabandhu, Vice Minister of
Energy, opens the Intergraph® 2010 Southeast Asia conference in Pattaya.
Thailand is heavily dependent on imports to meet the
nation’s energy demands, with energy products representing about a fifth of
the country’s total imports value. In order for Thailand to become more
self-sufficient and reduce its reliance on traditional sources of energy,
the Ministry of Energy has established an energy strategies agenda focusing
on three main areas: promotion of renewable energy, enhancing energy
efficiency, and the development of nuclear power.
The Ministry of Energy seeks to explore sources of
renewable energy through power generation, thermal application, and biofuels
such as ethanol and biodiesel, with the aim to increase the percentage share
of clean energy from the present 8% to 22% by 2022. Improving energy
efficiency is also a key focus with campaigns developed to drive awareness
with Thai citizens and incentives set up for industries, all of which are
supported by legislation and regulations. The Ministry of Energy is also
looking into the development of a nuclear power program over the next ten
years.
Thomas Doran, Intergraph Executive Vice President of
Process, Power & Marine for Asia Pacific said, “It was a great honour to
have Dr. Limpabandhu from the Ministry of Energy of the Government of
Thailand address the delegates at Intergraph 2010 Southeast Asia. The
conference, which was fully supported by Neon Infotech, a local Thai company
promoted by the Board of Investment under the Royal Thai Government,
provided a forum for industry leaders to learn about the latest technology
developments and business solutions, as well as the opportunity to
brainstorm and come up with new ideas to tackle real world challenges.”
“The Ministry of Energy strongly supported Intergraph
2010 Southeast Asia as the conference helped to promote the awareness of
technology in the energy industry,” said Dr. Prapas Limpabandhu. “With
Southeast Asia’s finest engineering professionals gathered at the
conference, the region’s industry leaders shared knowledge and worked at
developing sustainable solutions to meet Thailand and the world’s energy
demands.”
A US Congressional delegation on Monday will discuss with
senior Thai Ministry of Commerce officials reforming the US Generalized System
of Preferences (GSP) and ways to boost trade between the two countries, Commerce
Minister Pornthiva Nakasai said on Sunday.
Pornthiva said the US Congressional delegates will stay in
Thailand until next Sunday and Thai officials will ask them to reform GSP rules
and regulations as well as asking for continued support for preferred treatment
of Thai goods on certain items including automobile tires and seasoned shrimps.
It is expected that the American officials will ask about
Thailand’s position under the World Trade Organization, progress in Thai
government enforcement of intellectual property rights and the treatment of Thai
children working in the labor force in factories, she said.
During their stay, the Congressional delegation is scheduled
to visit several factories including textiles and silverware production in
Bangkok and the surrounding provinces, Pornthiva said.
The US market is significant to Thai exports, and Washington
has offered GSP privileges to Thai goods.
During calendar 2009, Thailand ranked second after Angola in
exercising GSP privileges as its goods exported under the GSP program were
valued at US$2.89 billion.
In the first five months of 2010 Thailand exercised GSP
privileges valued at US$1.42 billion, up 32 percent from the corresponding
period last year.
Most Thai exports that enjoyed GSP privileges were
silverware, radial tires for cars, seasoned food, rubber gloves, glass lenses
and air-conditioners. (MCOT)
