BANGKOK, June 18 – Thailand is prepared to allocate more natural gas from the M9 gas field to Myanmar as the neighbour needs more energy to serve the growing demand for the country’s development, Thai Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon said on Monday.
After his recent visit to Myanmar, the Thai minister said that under the contract, 60 million cubic feet (MCF) of gas per day will be delivered to Myanmar.
However, after a request from Myanmar and talks with PTT, the Thai oil and gas conglomerate running the project, an additional 60 MCF per day could be allocated for delivery.
Offshore block M9 is located some 300km south of Yangon in the Gulf of Martaban.
Additionally the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will send Myanmar two power generators, able to be run by oil or natural gas, to serve Myanmar’s electrical power demand the country is due to host the Southeast Asia (SEA) Games and the World Economic Forum on East Asia next year.
Energy assistance to Myanmar will not only help the neighbour but also demonstrates goodwill as Thailand is also investing in energy in Myanmar. A joint committee was set up to see if there are more energy channels by which Thailand could help Myanmar, Mr Arak said.
However, energy support to Myanmar will not negatively impact Thailand’s energy security, he added.
Under the 30-year agreement, PTTEP will start producing natural gas at 300 MCF per day in block M9 in 2013. The amount of 240 MCF per day will be delivered to PTT while the remaining 60 MCF will go to Myanmar for domestic use.
