Thailand to join ASEAN Energy Ministers' Meeting in Laos Sept 22-23

BANGKOK, September 17 (TNA) - Thailand will participate in the upcoming ASEAN Energy Ministers' Meeting, set to be held in Laos from September 22-23, during which the country's energy cooperation with Myanmar and Laos will also be discussed. Chavalit Pichalai, Director-General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), under the Thai Ministry of Energy, told journalists of the information on Wednesday, saying that EPPO will propose to new Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee during a meeting of his ministry's senior officials on September 18 for negotiations with Myanmar at next week's regional gathering in Laos on expanding energy cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. Chavalit said the proposed energy cooperation expansion with Myanmar include a plan by Thailand to increase electricity purchase from Myanmar to 10,000 megawatts, from 1,500 megawatts now, and to widen cooperation on purchasing petroleum from Myanmar. Meanwhile, Sunchai Khamnoonset, Governor of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), told reporters that the Thai side will also confer with Laos on a change of buying electricity from the landlocked neighbouring country. from purchasing directly from producers to purchasing from an agreed system. (TNA)