SET-listed Gulf Energy Development, Thailand's biggest private power producer by market value, expects its ongoing move to synergise its business with Advanced Info Service Plc (AIS), the country's biggest mobile operator, will pave the way for digital infrastructure development, which will become a core of the economy in the future.
Sarath: Digital technology a priority
Gulf, which earlier acquired InTouch Holdings, now holds a 42% share in InTouch Holdings Plc, which holds a 40% share in AIS.
Sarath Ratanavadi, chief executive and vice-chairman of the Gulf board, said short-term benefits from acquiring InTouch Holdings will be big data infrastructure and human resources in the information technology sector.
Gulf is preparing to apply digital technology to its power business.
The company wants to develop a digital power trade platform to enable power companies to directly sell electricity to end users.
At present, Gulf produces and sells electricity to the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) under the enhanced single buyer model, which allows Egat to be a single buyer that sells electricity to the public.
Gulf also sells electricity to factories under private power purchase agreements, often known as private PPA.
As digitalisation in Thailand becomes more important, the private PPA may be expanded to cover more customers, allowing companies to sell electricity to households, said Mr Sarath.
Digital technology is needed for the change, he said.
A digital power trade platform will even allow households to trade power generated from rooftop solar panels among themselves.
"Today this type of trade is piloted in a sandbox. It will take time for further development," said Mr Sarath.
Along with its move to harness more digital technology are asset acquisition plans.