Ministers gave the green light to a proposal yesterday to use Thai rubber latex in the Transport Ministry's construction projects in a bid to shore up rubber prices.
"Gen Prayut has instructed the Transport Ministry to make sure that future construction projects use at least 30% locally made materials," Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchod quoted the premier as saying after the economic ministers' meeting.
Mr Saksayam said that details about which projects must use rubber latex will be worked out and submitted in the next meeting.
The Transport Ministry will include the quota in its terms of reference for future bidding on construction contracts, he said.
A source told the Bangkok Post that the requirement will be enacted as law, obliging private contractors to use more locally sourced materials, including rubber, in construction projects.
The 30% threshold will eventually be increased to 50%, the source said.
The source added that the Rural Roads Department will use about 6,000 tonnes of rubber latex this year.
The locally sourced rubber will be incorporated in the department's 13-billion-baht spending plans for the replacement of guardrails, guideposts and dividing barriers on roads nationwide.
Mr Saksayam said the Transport Ministry has also proposed using alternative sources of energy. The prime minister responded by asking the transport, energy and industry ministries to work together to draft a formal plan, according to Mr Saksayam.