Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has bowed to the demand of
energy activists and agreed to put on hold a new round of bidding for petroleum exploration concessions until related laws
have been amended.
Gen Prayut discussed the issue on Tuesday with the cabinet and the National Council for Peace and Order members after
supporters and opponents of new oil-and-gas concessions debated their merits and supplied information at the government-sponsored forum at Government House on Friday.
The supporters cited energy security as the main reason for proceeding with the new round immediately. They argued new oil and natural gas reserves had to be explored without delay because the country would run out of energy in eight years.
But the opponents argued the government should not rush and demanded an amendment to the Petroleum Act to allow more options than the concession method.
Their preference is the production sharing contract (PSC) scheme, which they claim
would keep oil and gas in the country's hand. Under the concession method, the reserves belong to explorers, they said.
The decision on Tuesday by the prime minister effectively extended the deadline for
concession bid applications for the second time. It was orginally set for Feb 18 but was later delayed until March 16 pending the outcome of the forum.
Gen Prayut said more options would be explored in detail before the issue was
forwarded to the National Legislative Assembly if law amendments were necessary. The possible change, which might take three months, will be in the best interests of
the public, he added.
The ministry has prepared for the 21st round of bidding for petroleum exploration of
23 blocks onshore and another six in the Gulf of Thailand since 2012.