The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) is being told to speed up the bidding process for Map Ta Phut port development, as the winning bidder is scheduled to sign a contract on June 4.
The IEAT is the auction host for the third phase of Map Ta Phut port, worth 55.4 billion baht. The bidding is in the form of a public-private partnership.
Only one bidder, a consortium led by PTT and Gulf Energy Development, qualified for all the criteria to bid on the megaproject.
IEAT governor Somchint Pilouk said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered officials to complete the entire bidding process as planned.
"Gen Prayut reaffirmed the auction should be accurate and transparent, complying with a request for proposal regulation. The country should also get the most benefits from the megaproject," Ms Somchint said. "The winning bidder will have right to develop and manage the seaport under a 30-year contract, so Map Ta Phut port has to support new investment flows in the next five years."
Map Ta Phut port is one of five megaprojects under the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) scheme. It attracted 18 companies to buy bidding envelopes, but only one consortium submitted the documents.
PTT, Gulf and China Harbour Engineering Co also formed a consortium to bid for the third phase of Laem Chabang seaport (114 billion baht), another megaproject under the EEC.
According to the IEAT, the third phase of Map Ta Phut seaport in Rayong is divided into two periods of development.
The first period entails development of the superstructure worth 47.9 billion baht, of which IEAT will spend 12.9 billion with the winning bidder responsible for the remainder.
This period consists of dredging watercourses and basins for vessels, construction of embankments to withstand waves, installation of maritime infrastructure and construction of ship wharves, all on a combined 1,000-rai development area.
The IEAT expects the first period to begin operation in 2025 to support petroleum gas shipments of 10 million tonnes a year.
The second period is for additional development of the seaport's superstructure -- dockyards and back areas -- worth 7.5 billion baht, for which the IEAT will issue terms of reference to seek more bidders.
The second period will begin construction in 2023 and commence operations in 2025 to serve liquid gas shipments of 4 million tonnes a year.
"All three phases of Map Ta Phut seaport will support the shipment of petroleum gas and liquid gas over the next 30 years," Ms Somchint said.