Thailand keen on power and energy investment in Bangladesh

The Thai energy minister yesterday expressed the country's interest to invest in base-load power generation and power transmission in Bangladesh by building coal-fired, gas-fired or oil-fired power plants. 

“Thai companies are investing in base-load power generation in India as well in alternative and renewable power generation sector in Japan at competitive prices,” said Narongchai Akranasee, Thailand's energy minister, to Saida Muna Tasneem, Bangladesh's ambassador in Thailand, during a meeting at his office yesterday.

“Thailand's PTT Exploration and Production Company Ltd would be keen to participate in any open bidding licensing process in the exploration and production of oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal,''  the minister said in response to Bangladesh envoy's invitation for Thai investment and technical collaboration.

“PTT has invested in 14 large-scale power generation projects in Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Oman, Algeria and Iran while international subsidiaries of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand have invested in Laos, Australia, Japan and the Philippines,” he said.

Bangladesh has doubled the country's power generation to over 13,000 MW and enhanced access to electricity from 47 percent to 68 percent over the last 5 years, which highlights the country's policy priorities, Ambassador Tasneem said.

She also sought for Thailand's private sector and government-to-government investment in coal-fired and LNG-based power plants as well as in alternative and renewable energy options like solar heating, wind, bio-mass, and solid waste technology.

She also presented the government's power generation master plan to produce 40,000 MW of electricity by 2030 during the meeting.

Both countries have agreed to exchange delegations of power and energy sector experts and investors soon to explore potential areas of investment and technical cooperation.