The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is calling for the Energy Ministry to provide a demand projection for liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipped to the Map Ta Phut port to increase the confidence of business operators considering joining the bid for the seaport's third phase.
The Map Ta Phut industrial estate and seaport, located in Rayong province, is the production hub for petroleum and petrochemicals for many large companies. PTT Plc, the national oil and gas conglomerate, runs the LNG receiving terminal in Map Ta Phut at a capacity of 10 million tonnes a year.
Somchint Pilouk, the IEAT governor, said the authority submitted a letter via the Industry Ministry to the Energy Ministry to provide the LNG demand figure.
"We want precise figures for LNG demand and supply in the future to build up bidder confidence," she said. "Industry Minister Uttama Savanayana supports the IEAT on this matter, and the letter was sent to Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan last Tuesday."
Ms Somchint said the bidders joining phase three of the seaport are concerned about future demand and supply, as they are mulling investment in a new LNG receiving terminal at Map Ta Phut.
LNG has to be imported, and energy policymakers must allow shipments by granting LNG distribution licences. The gas will be part of the new edition of the national power development plan.
The IEAT is the operator of Map Ta Phut industrial estate and seaport and the host for the auction of the seaport's third phase, worth 55.4 billion baht.
Map Ta Phut is also the strategic hub of the government's Eastern Economic Corridor scheme.
Last Wednesday, the IEAT said 18 local and foreign companies bought envelopes containing terms of reference for the auction. Ten of the bidders are Thai companies and eight are foreign.
The 18 firms are mostly petrochemical makers, power producers and construction providers.
All bidders attended a meeting detailing the auction conditions yesterday. They visit the site in Rayong province today.
Bidders must submit their proposal papers to the IEAT by December. The winning bidder will be announced in February.
"The IEAT expects to sign a contract with the winning company after the announcement, and the seaport's third phase is expected to begin construction in 2019 and start operations in 2025," Ms Somchint said. "This project includes a superstructure worth 35 billion baht, which the winning bidder will invest in solely."