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Energy credit cards launched tomorrow
The energy credit-card scheme kicks off tomorrow with 130,000 drivers and 65,500 vehicles eligible to participate.
The flag will drop on the first 150 vehicles – 100 cabs, 35 public buses and 15 tuk-tuks.
The scheme was launched to alleviate the impacts from the rising price of natural gas for vehicles as well as the flooding.
Energy Minister Pichai Naripthaphan said yesterday that motorists would be allocated Bt3,000 in credit per month for NGV purchases.
Then from January 16 until 2015, they are also entitled to discounts of Bt0.50-Bt2 per kilogram, depending on the time of purchase.
PTT will issue the credit cards, while Krungthai Bank will send an mobile-phone text message to cardholders stating their account balance as of the closing on the 25th day of each month.
Eligible motorists are invited to bring along their driving licences to apply for the scheme at Impact Muang Thong Thani from December 15-17 and JJ Mall Chatuchak from December 19-24. – The Nation
90% report flood impact
More than 90 per cent of businesses say they were directly or indirectly affected by the floods, according to a poll conducted by the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.
Of the affected respondents, 64.8 per cent said they had sustained a direct impact, while for 28.2 per cent the impact was indirect.
Only 7.3 per cent of the respondents said they suffered no impact from any of the floods.
Asked whether they were satisfied with the government’s measures to help business operators affected by the floods, 43.6 per cent of the respondents said they were less than satisfied.
The opinion survey was conducted from November 22-26 and received 701 responses. – The Nation
No Toyota orders at expo
Toyota Motor Thailand will take no orders at the 28th Thailand International Motor Expo from December 1-12, as it has to speed up delivery of vehicles. Orders are accepted at showrooms nationwide, though.
Toyota suspended production from October 10-November 20, as several suppliers were affected by flooding and could not supply parts and accessories.
In a statement released yesterday, the auto-maker said its booth this year, besides exhibits of "Hybrid Synergy" and "Diamond Tech" technology, would demonstrate its commitment to help Thai society after the big floods. – The Nation
Overseas PTT expansion
PTT, the country’s largest energy company, expects to spend Bt1 billion during the next two years to expand its retail oil business in neighbouring countries.
The company plans to open 40 petrol stations each in Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines. The move is to prepare the company for the Asean Economic Community, senior executive vice president Sarun Rungkasiri said yesterday. – Bloomberg
