Thailand invests in solar energy projects in Japan

BANGKOK, September 12 (TNA) - Thailand, through two private firms, will invest in two solar energy production projects in Japan in 2016 with their total production capacity in the first phase set at 33 megawatts. Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (RATCH) and Chow Steel Industries Company Limited (CHOW) announced on Friday that they have concluded a business alliance deal to first invest in the two solar energy projects in Japan with their commercial service for the 33-megawatt power production to begin in 2016. Under the agreement, both companies will set up two joint ventures, in which RATCH holds 60 per cent of the stakes and CHOW holds the rest, paving the way for their investment expansion in Japan in the future. RATCH Managing Director Pongdit Pojana told journalists that the Japanese government has agreed to buy over 7,000 megawatts of solar energy during a period to be later set. CHOW President Anawin Jirathammasiri revealed, meanwhile, that one of the two solar energy project, named Ueda, with its contracted power production capacity of 10.8 megawatts, will be located in Japan's Nagano Prefecture, while the other, named Iwaki, with its contracted production capacity of 22.6 megawatts, will be located in Fukushima Prefecture. (TNA)