Pridiyathorn objects to military's planned national oil corp

Pridiyathorn objects to military's planned national oil corp

Former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula explains why he rejects a bid to form a national oil corporation, during a media briefing at the Thai Journalists' Association in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakun)
Former deputy prime minister MR Pridiyathorn Devakula explains why he rejects a bid to form a national oil corporation, during a media briefing at the Thai Journalists' Association in Bangkok on Monday. (Photo by Seksan Rojjanametakun)

Former deputy prime minister Pridiyathorn Devakula complained on Monday of an "irregular move by the military" to form a national oil corporation that he said would have unrestrained power.

The National Legislative Assembly (NLA) is due to debate the Petroleum Bill in its second and third readings on Thursday, MR Pridiyathorn told a media conference at the Thai Journalists Association in Bangkok on Monday.

Section 10/1 of the bill stated that a national oil corporation would be set up "when all is in readiness", he said. This readiness would be based on a feasibility study by various agencies.

This section had not been in the bill during the first reading, and had been "irregularly" added, he said. It would centralise all authority in the management and allocation of national energy in one organisation.

A group of military officers was behind the addition of the new provision in the Petroleum Bill prior to its second reading, MR Pridiyathorn said.

During his tenure as a deputy prime minister, six former high-ranking military officers in the NLA had surprisingly asked the Prayut Chan-o-cha government to add the establishment of a national oil corporation to the bill, he said.

It was an attempt to control national energy sources and businesses, MR Pridiyathorn said.

"It is strange that the first reading of the Petroleum Bill did not include the national oil corporation. Why does it emerge in the second reading, and why does the cabinet let it happen? The irregularity can be stopped if the NLA votes against this bill, which may affect the nation," MR Pridiyathorn said.

"Such a corporation with rights to all petroleum sources in the country could do more than one may imagine. It could organise bidding contests, or even form subsidiaries.

"When regulation and operation rest within one organisation, who will do the scrutiny? Finally, we cannot control it. If politicians later influence it, you will be sorry," he said.

Video by Apichart Jinakul

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