Bidding for administering Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 later this year

RAYONG, Feb 17 (TNA) -- The state-run Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) will launch a bidding to select the management team for Laem Chabang Port Phase 3 later this year. Total investment for the deep sea port is about 140 billion baht and upon completion, it could cater as much as 18 million TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Unit) annually which could cope with rising sea transportations in Thailand and in Southeast Asia as well. Chomroen Phothiyod, Inspector-General of Ministry of Finance, said in his capacity as a committee of the PAT that so far between 4-5 renowned global port operators have expressed interests in the upcoming bidding. Mr Chomroen said he is optimistic that the port expansion which could assist in goods distribution to the three Indochinese countries and China would receive intense interest from the public. Porntipa Taweenuch, director of PAT’s General Administration Division, said that after a draft law on the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) was approved by the National Legislative Assembly, many potential investors have shown interests on the investment of Laem Chabang Port Phase 3. Ms Porntipa said the PAT will soon send a study on environmental health impact assessment (EHIA) to the National Environment Board for consideration and she hoped the project would pose no environmental problem. Bidding for the port administrator is expected to be held mid this year while operations are to be launched in 2025, she said. (TNA)