Thailand expands power projects in emerging markets

RATCHABURI, November 9 (TNA) - Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Co., Ltd. (RATCH), a leading Thai private power firm, has announced that it is expanding its power investment into emerging markets in the region. RATCH President Pongdit Pojana told reporters on Saturday (Nov 9) that the plan is part of his company's move to adjust its business strategy by cooperating with its partners in jointly investing in several emerging markets. In order to enable RATCH to be business competitive in Thailand and overseas, Pongdit elaborated, RATCH will co-invest in regional emerging markets, including Myanmar, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines, all are member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in which Thailand is also a member. According to the RATCH top executive, his company's new investment projects will involve in coal and hydro-powered electricity generating plants and, in order to boost the company’s production, RATCH will also expand investment in Thailand, Laos and Australia by developing the Collinsville Energy Park, which produces solar energy. The top executive acknowledged that RATCH also plans to develop its natural gas-powered electricity plant in substitution of the old one. Currently, RATCH produces and sells power from 26 projects, while six projects are now being either under construction or development. RATCH's power production over the past 13 years has surged by 329 per cent to 6,303 megawatts now. (TNA)