Thailand: Energy activists urge delay on exploration concessions

[webfact]

Energy activists urge delay on exploration concessions
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- A GROUP of activists campaigning for reform in Thailand's energy sector yesterday called on the government to delay the process of awarding new concessions for petroleum exploration and production.

The group, which includes National Reform Council (NRC) member Rosana Tositrakul, held a press conference at the Foundation for Consumers yesterday morning.

The Partnership on Energy Reform, which is part of the group, said the Energy Ministry and relevant state agencies should provide sufficient information to the National Energy Policy Council before a new round of petroleum concessions was awarded.

The activists said that without sufficient information, the council would make an inaccurate decision.

For example, they said the local consumption of oil was 1.58 million barrels a day, not 2 million as claimed by the relevant agencies.

The group also called for a review of the method used for awarding concessions in the exploration and production of petroleum in Thailand. It suggested that a system of production sharing, which was used in some countries, would ensure a fair share of benefits for the state.

It said the next round of concessions, the country's 21st, should be postponed until the Petroleum Act of BE 2514 (1971) was amended as part of the ongoing reform of the energy sector.

The Energy Ministry and the National Energy Policy Council on Wednesday called for bids for petroleum concessions in 29 areas - both in the sea and on land. They cited the need for more energy |to meet the country's expected shortage of natural gas by 2018. Rosana said the bidding should be delayed until the NRC agreed on how to reform the energy sector. The sector is part of the national reform of 11 areas mandated by the military junta.

"We disagree with the hasty move in awarding concessions while the debate and conflict are still going on," she said.

"It is said the coup was done to solve the problem of unrest. It should not allow you to make decisions about the petroleum concessions. We call for a delay in this matter."

She added that the government should also review the system of concessions.

Meanwhile, Boonyuen Siritham, president of the Federation of Consumer Organisations, said she was threatened by a group of soldiers after she submitted an petition to the prime minister at Government House on Wednesday calling for a review of the concessions and the reform of the energy sector.

She said the soldiers threatened her at her home in Samut Songkhram.

"They should not try to gag me with the martial law. What we are doing is for the benefit of our children and grandchildren in the future," she said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Energy-activists-urge-delay-on-exploration-concess-30246161.html


-- The Nation 2014-10-24

[BSJ]

My first though is "Their a bunch of idiots" ! Blocking oil and gas exploration isn't going to change the status quo. I think it's protest just to be heard!

What's needed is strict enforcement of emission laws. Poorly maintained vehicles use more fuel and create more pollution.

1/ Get all the smoky trucks and buses of the road till they are fixed.

2/ Make sure all the people doing annual inspections are doing their job properly.

plus

3/ Better co-ordination of traffic in metro areas so there is less idling time.

4/ Introduce Euro 4 emission standard across the whole transport spectrum.

5/ More involvement in solar and wind power projects for base load power needs.

The government is forging ahead with a better public transport system so that may in time have some benefit.

But as I have said before here and other forums we are going to be using fossil fuel for the next 75 to 100 years, that's a fact!

[rickirs]

"They should not try to gag me with the martial law."

But that's the whole point of martial law. It's not optional. You cheer the Junta until you discover you lost civil liberties you once took for granted. Try this - do a public protest and see how martial law applies to you.

[RBOP]

Rosana and her cronies have a long colorful history of trying to block development, give false and misleading information and generally cost the tax payers more in the end. All her points have been rebutted but she and her group just don't listen and cant accept the logical truth. Thailand's energy sufficiency is in utter jeopardy now. There has not been a Concession bidding round in over 7 years. Indonesia has 2 biddings a year. It takes years to do the required EIAs and then even more years to explore and no discovery is a high probability. The risk in Thailand is much higher than other countries and reserves are not that big which Rosana doesn't understand.