Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BANGKOK5267
2007-10-05 07:35:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:
THAI ENERGY IN BURMA: BUSINESS AS USUAL
how-toVZCZCXRO7537 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHBK #5267 2780735 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 050735Z OCT 07 FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0028 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4921 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 7732 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 4768 RUEHUL/AMEMBASSY SEOUL PRIORITY 3687 RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 9841 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI PRIORITY 4182 RUEHDE/AMCONSUL DUBAI PRIORITY 0106 RUEHNEC/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 0129 RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005267
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET BM TH IR
SUBJECT: THAI ENERGY IN BURMA: BUSINESS AS USUAL
REF: 06 BANGKOK 1119
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (
b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 005267
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET BM TH IR
SUBJECT: THAI ENERGY IN BURMA: BUSINESS AS USUAL
REF: 06 BANGKOK 1119
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) Despite the turmoil of the past two weeks, Thai
energy executives do not foresee any significant impact on
their activities in Burma, which supplies 25 percent of
Thailand's natural gas. Executives from the government's
huge oil conglomerate PTT told econoff that the unrest in
Burma will not affect PTT's ongoing exploration for and
production of natural gas for export to Thailand. Executive
Vice President for Business Development Tevin Vongvanich, who
had just returned from Burma, indicated that the situation is
also unlikely to affect PTT's development of new projects.
PTT, Tevin stated, would like to see a gradual, peaceful
transition to democracy in Burma, but in the meantime must
continue with their operations to supply gas to Thailand. He
asked about the terms of additional U.S. sanctions, noting
that Chevron is active in Burma. Econoff reiterated the
policy as publicly announced.
2. (C) Speaking to the issue of alternate sources of natural
gas, Vice President for Business Development Nopporn
Chuchinda said that plans to build an LNG terminal in Map Ta
Phut on Thailand's Eastern Seaboard are moving forward
without controversy. The terminal is expected to be
completed by 2011. Tevin inquired about trends in and U.S.
policy toward Iran and expressed a degree of skepticism over
the assertion that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Note:
PTT is currently in negotiations to purchase a significant
amount of LNG from the South Pars site in Iran and previously
signed an MOU to explore and develop petroleum in the Saveh
block south of Tehran (reftel). End note.
3. (C) One energy industry analyst we spoke to said that
among its neighbors, Thailand is uniquely dependent on
natural gas. He said that from a portfolio standpoint,
Thailand is already very much "overweight" in Burma gas and
should pursue other sources to improve energy security. With
PTT's share price (approximately 35 percent of the shares of
PTT stock are publicly traded on the stock exchange, with the
remainder owned by the Ministry of Finance and
government-managed investment funds) continuing near its all
time high, however, investors do not appear perturbed by
PTT's dependence on Burmese energy sources. The analyst also
said that India is the most likely buyer of gas from new
developments in Burma, although China is also interested.
BOYCE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EAP/MLS, TREASURY FOR OASIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017
TAGS: ECON ENRG EPET BM TH IR
SUBJECT: THAI ENERGY IN BURMA: BUSINESS AS USUAL
REF: 06 BANGKOK 1119
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission James F. Entwistle, reason 1.4 (
b) and (d)
1. (C) Despite the turmoil of the past two weeks, Thai
energy executives do not foresee any significant impact on
their activities in Burma, which supplies 25 percent of
Thailand's natural gas. Executives from the government's
huge oil conglomerate PTT told econoff that the unrest in
Burma will not affect PTT's ongoing exploration for and
production of natural gas for export to Thailand. Executive
Vice President for Business Development Tevin Vongvanich, who
had just returned from Burma, indicated that the situation is
also unlikely to affect PTT's development of new projects.
PTT, Tevin stated, would like to see a gradual, peaceful
transition to democracy in Burma, but in the meantime must
continue with their operations to supply gas to Thailand. He
asked about the terms of additional U.S. sanctions, noting
that Chevron is active in Burma. Econoff reiterated the
policy as publicly announced.
2. (C) Speaking to the issue of alternate sources of natural
gas, Vice President for Business Development Nopporn
Chuchinda said that plans to build an LNG terminal in Map Ta
Phut on Thailand's Eastern Seaboard are moving forward
without controversy. The terminal is expected to be
completed by 2011. Tevin inquired about trends in and U.S.
policy toward Iran and expressed a degree of skepticism over
the assertion that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons. Note:
PTT is currently in negotiations to purchase a significant
amount of LNG from the South Pars site in Iran and previously
signed an MOU to explore and develop petroleum in the Saveh
block south of Tehran (reftel). End note.
3. (C) One energy industry analyst we spoke to said that
among its neighbors, Thailand is uniquely dependent on
natural gas. He said that from a portfolio standpoint,
Thailand is already very much "overweight" in Burma gas and
should pursue other sources to improve energy security. With
PTT's share price (approximately 35 percent of the shares of
PTT stock are publicly traded on the stock exchange, with the
remainder owned by the Ministry of Finance and
government-managed investment funds) continuing near its all
time high, however, investors do not appear perturbed by
PTT's dependence on Burmese energy sources. The analyst also
said that India is the most likely buyer of gas from new
developments in Burma, although China is also interested.
BOYCE