Gulf talks with Cambodia and oil-concession bids pushed back

WATCHARAPONG THONGRUNG

THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- Two items on the government's energy agenda - preparations for talks with Cambodia on a solution to the countries' overlapping claims in the Gulf of Thailand and the plan to open a 21st round of bidding for petroleum exploration and production concessions - are likely to be delayed until next year.

The government had planned to finish its preparations for the negotiations next month and send them to the Cabinet and Parliament for approval. However, completion of the preparations might be postponed until next year, as the government does not want to run the risk of the opposition raising the issues in the upcoming censure debate, an Energy Ministry source said.

Songpope Polachan, director-general of the Department of Mineral Fuels, said both countries would benefit from the development of natural gas fields in the overlapping 26,000 square-kilometre area if they can solve the problem quickly.

The department has proposed that the solution be based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the two countries last year that the bilateral negotiations will be divided into two parts. The first stage of the talks would cover the upper part of the overlapping area, in which the military and national security agencies would be responsible for negotiations. These talks would use demarcation principles to divide the area.

For the overlapped areas, the Joint Development Area (JDA) basis would be used.

If the negotiations lead to collaboration and exploration, this will help increase Thailand's natural gas reserve by 30 per cent.

In a separate matter, the department will delay its launch of the 21st round of bidding for petroleum exploration and production concessions to next year from September, as Myanmar will launch its petroleum concession bid in November. Myanmar's petroleum fields have higher potential and are more attractive to bidders than those offered by Thailand. If the department and Myanmar launch the bid at a similar time, the department is concerned its concessions might fail to attract bidders.

The 21st bidding round features 22 plots, of which 11 are in the Northeast, six are in the North, and the rest are in the Gulf of Thailand. The total area is 46,000 sq km. According to the department's preliminary estimate, the area could contain between 3 trillion and 5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 5 million to 10 million barrels of crude oil.

-- The Nation 2012-09-03

The 21st round of Thai bids was due this month, but is now delayed until next year, because of a possible-conflict with similar activities with Burmese exploration-rights in November ?

Oi ! We were ready first ! So surely Thailand should press-ahead with its own activities on-schedule ?

Or does that not allow sufficient time for 'corrections' and 'adjustments' to bids, for the less-interesting Thai blocks, which might not attract any bidders at all (which seems highly-unlikely) ?

Let the market and the oil-companies decide, the oil-companies should know better than the bureaucrats, which areas are worth bidding-for/exploring/developing.

Songpope Polachan, director-general of the Department of Mineral Fuels, said both countries would benefit from the development of natural gas fields in the overlapping 26,000 square-kilometre area if they can solve the problem quickly.

Well they're not going to solve it quickly by delaying progress until next year.

Perhaps what's needed is a suitable intermediary, equally trusted by PM-Yingluck's PTP-led government and by Hun-Sen, to negotiate a mutually-acceptable agreement ?

Such a person would have proven experience, in investing profitably in 3rd-world natural-resources, and be willing to work on a pro-bono basis, for the good of the countries involved.

But where to find such a person ?

Perhaps what's needed is a suitable intermediary, equally trusted by PM-Yingluck's PTP-led government and by Hun-Sen, to negotiate a mutually-acceptable agreement ?

Such a person would have proven experience, in investing profitably in 3rd-world natural-resources, and be willing to work on a pro-bono basis, for the good of the countries involved.

But where to find such a person ?

In Korea, still sorting out those pumps.

Perhaps what's needed is a suitable intermediary, equally trusted by PM-Yingluck's PTP-led government and by Hun-Sen, to negotiate a mutually-acceptable agreement ?

Such a person would have proven experience, in investing profitably in 3rd-world natural-resources, and be willing to work on a pro-bono basis, for the good of the countries involved.

But where to find such a person ?

In Korea, still sorting out those pumps.

Did they ever get delivered, and if so, who paid for them ?

Amazing Miracle Thailand !

"However, completion of the preparations might be postponed until next year, as the government does not want to run the risk of the opposition raising the issues in the upcoming censure debate, an Energy Ministry source said".

WHY!!! have they got something to hide?????.

"However, completion of the preparations might be postponed until next year, as the government does not want to run the risk of the opposition raising the issues in the upcoming censure debate, an Energy Ministry source said".

WHY!!! have they got something to hide?????.

Of course..in the case of Cambodia deal...once a JDA is agreed to, a Joint venture company would need to be set up and who do you think will play a part in the formation of this company...give you a hint...he lives in Dubai, therefore a conflict of interest as his sister is the PM of Thailand, one suspects the details have already been agreed to a long time ago, and they have cunning plan...