PM urged to end energy bids

PM urged to end energy bids

Energy advocates yesterday asked Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to suspend the controversial 21st round of bidding on concessions for oil and gas exploration. 

Energy activists hold aloft a poster calling for national energy reform. The Confederation of Consumer Organisations submitted a petition to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House yesterday. Thiti Wannamontha

About 20 members of the Federation of Consumer Organisation's People's Alliance for Thai Energy Reform turned up at the People's Service Centre at Government House to submit the petition.

The group called on the premier to follow the stance of the National Reform Council (NRC), which last week voted against its energy reform committee, which supports the concession bidding.

Confederation of Consumer Organisations chairwoman Boonyuen Siritham, one of the group leaders, said Gen Prayut had stressed that national reforms, including energy, must be carried out before the election. Unless the concession bids are put on hold, the chance to reform energy policy would be lost, she said.

The concession system, she said, does not allow the public to have a say in the management of energy policy.

Ms Boonyuen said the country's petroleum reserves must be determined on a preliminary basis before giving exploration rights to companies. Reform of exploration rights is also needed, she said.

"If the premier goes against the public's wishes, 100 pieces of legislation won't stop us [from protesting]," she said. 

Gen Prayut has indicated anti-energy concession protests will not be tolerated.

Former People's Alliance for Democracy co-leader Panthep Puapongpang said if the premier presses ahead with the concession bids, he would be ignoring public sentiment.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT