Canada invites Thailand to invest in natural gas development

BANGKOK, March 23 (TNA) - Thai Energy Minister Arak Chonthanon said on Friday, after meeting with visiting Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and his entourage, that Canada has invited Thailand, especially PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), to produce liquefied natural gas (LPG) in its gas-rich western coast. Arak told journalists that Canada has acknowledged a mega investment project of Thailand-based PTTEP and Statoil Co and has seen Thailand's potential in expanding gas production in the Northern American nation. Meanwhile, the Puea Thai government has invited Canada to join a new bidding contest for petroleum concessions in Thailand and the Thai energy minister said that concerned authorities will later discuss the possibility of the expanding bilateral energy cooperation in details. Regarding a meeting of Thailand's National Energy Policy Committee on Friday, the energy minister said that the panel postponed its consideration on energy prices, as Premier Yingluck could not attend the session due to her meeting with the visiting Canadian prime minister, and that the National Energy Policy Committee will meet again within two weeks to discuss energy prices on the domestic market and assistance for local small-scaled LPG buyers. According to the energy minister, finally there will be a single LPG price in Thailand to solve the problem of illegal LPG exports to neighboring countries and illegal transfers of LPG for use across sectors.(TNA)