The government should quickly proceed with the 21st round of bidding for oil drilling concessions to ensure the country's future energy security, the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) said on Wednesday.
President Supant Mongkolsuthee said the FTI supported the calling of bids for exploratory concession rights to drill, on the condition they were for the national interest and not that of any particular group, and were transparent.
FTI vice chairman Chen Namchaisiri said the bidding should be accelerated because exploration had been long delayed and there was a risk of oil shortages.
He said the commercial development of a petroleum resource could take as long as a decade, while production from existing natural gas resources in the country was declining.
Production-sharing agreements should be entered into, so Thailand could jointly develop petroleum resources with neighbouring countries.
The FTI's stance goes against the National Reform Council, which voted in January to oppose new petroleum concessions this round. It said the bidding would affect the public interest.
Consumers' organisations share the same stance and call the government to end the concession approach.
Under the 21st petroleum concession bidding round, 29 blocks of exploration fields -- 23 onshore and six offshore -- will be granted to investors through bidding. Bidding applications are open until Feb 18.