Thai Firm Signs Gas Deal With Myanmar Junta Amid Rights Concerns

[geovalin]

MoI

 

A Thai energy company has signed a new offshore gas deal with Myanmar’s junta, marking the first such agreement since the 2021 military coup—despite growing international condemnation of the regime’s human rights abuses.

 

Gulf Petroleum Myanmar (GPM), a subsidiary of Thailand’s Northern Gulf Petroleum, inked a production-sharing contract with the junta-run Myanmar Oil and Natural Gas Enterprise (MOGE) in Naypyitaw last Thursday. The project, dubbed Min Ye Thu, is located in the Mottama Gulf and is set to begin production by 2028.

 

The announcement comes as the junta faces severe budget shortfalls amid an escalating civil war. MOGE remains the regime’s largest source of foreign income and has been sanctioned by both the EU and the United States for funding military operations and atrocities against civilians.

 

GPM operates in partnership with Myanmar’s SMART Group—long associated with the military elite—and already runs the Yetagun project, having taken over in 2022 following Petronas’ withdrawal.

 

Energy Minister Ko Ko Lwin praised the deal, citing dwindling yields from existing gas fields and expiring contracts. “The new project will help fund further exploration and increase our foreign currency reserves,” he said.

 

But rights watchdogs warn that such revenue will likely fund the junta’s military campaign, including a reported spike in indiscriminate airstrikes on resistance-held areas.

 

International companies including Chevron, TotalEnergies, and Woodside exited Myanmar after the 2021 coup, citing concerns over the junta’s use of oil and gas profits to finance repression.

 

Justice For Myanmar highlighted the opaque nature of Northern Gulf Petroleum’s operations, pointing to a network of shell companies based in tax havens such as Bermuda and the British Virgin Islands.

 

With this latest move, critics argue, Myanmar’s military is once again leveraging its natural resources to sustain a brutal grip on power—while foreign firms risk complicity by propping up its economic lifelines.

 

-2025-06-02

 

 

[Srikcir]

I don't think this deal could occur without Thailand government backing. Especially with Thailand's membership on the UN Human Rights Commission.

On the other hand a junta-to-junta backed gas deal makes sense. 

[Burma Bill]

Shame on you Thailand for supporting the Burmese Junta.

[NanLaew]

Even before the military coup, Myanmar Oil and Natural Gas Enterprise (MOGE) was never using their profits from oil and gas ventures to,

 

On 6/2/2025 at 8:47 AM, geovalin said:

...help fund further exploration and increase our foreign currency reserves, ...

 

Never have and never will either. It's always been just a huge cash cow for the privileged and well-connected in Myanmar's government, regardless of what flavour that government is or was.