Texas-based Exxon Mobil Corporation has reaffirmed its plan to invest US$8 billion to establish an ethylene cracker facility, but it called on the Thai government to help it seek vast land plots sized 600-800 rai near its refinery in Sri Racha, Chon Buri.
Navin Damrikan, deputy secretary-general to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for political affairs, quoted Jack P Williams, senior vice-president of Exxon Mobil, who met Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, as saying the company is still intent on investing in the new ethylene cracker facility at Chon Buri.
"The key point is the US firm asked the Thai government to help find new plots near its existing refinery at Sri Racha," he said. The ethylene cracker plant is expected to be connected to the pipeline at the refinery.
The plant will also be located near Laem Chabang port because the company plans to export petrochemical products to the region.
Gen Navin said Mr Somkid has already assigned Kobsak Pootrakool, Minister to PM's Office, to take care of the US firm's request.
The government may help find a plot for the company because of the scale of the investment and its benefit to the Thai economy, he said.
Exxon Mobil has operated in Thailand for more than 120 years through its Esso trading name.
The investment includes downstream operations, including a refinery and chemical manufacturing plant in Sri Racha, a network of distribution terminals and service stations, and a strong lubricants presence.
The company operates an onshore natural gas production site in Nam Phong district, Khon Kaen.
In addition, Exxon Mobil has a business support centre in Bangkok that provides accounting, human resources, IT, retail operations, procurement, treasury and tax services, card operations and customer service to various Exxon Mobil affiliates worldwide.
In March this year, Mr Williams met Mr Somkid to confirm Exxon Mobil's investment scale was expected to be on par with that in the US.
Mr Somkid said the US firm's executives believe the Thai economy's prospects are very promising and hope the country can become an export hub for Exxon Mobil in Asia.