Thailand successfully exports modules of petroleum production platform

BANGKOK, October 2 (TNA) - Thailand has successfully exported modules of a large-scaled petroleum production platform to Norway. The 6,000-ton modules, with its height equivalent to an eight-storey building worth 20 billion baht, were produced at the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate in Thailand's eastern Chon Buri province. The biggest lot of Thai export-oriented platform modules is on a 35-day delivery to Norway by sea to be a petroleum production platform of Statoil. The modules were produced by Aibel (Thailand) Co., owned by a group of Norwegian investors. Thailand is the second large-scaled production base of Aibel, which has production bases in six countries. Aibel chose Thailand as one of its six overseas manufacturing bases because costs in the Kingdom remain some eight times cheaper than those in Norway and the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate stands near a seaport which can serve large-scaled transportation. Besides Thailand has quality personnel at executive and labor levels, convenient transportation and advanced technologies. The management of Aibel said they are waiting for the Thai government to decide whether it will extend the lease at the Laem Chabang Industrial Estate for the company, as Aibel's lease contract will expire in 6-7 years and the Thai government is considering to use the eastern industrial estate for national logistic development projects, which may affect the petroleum platform production of Aibel. (TNA)