MINISTRY PROMOTES QUARTZ INDUSTRY

According to the ministry’s Department of Primary Industries and Mines, the Kingdom has reserves of 25 million tonnes of high-quality quartz that could be used to manufacture about 6 million tonnes of solar-cell-grade silicon, which in turn could generate 1 million megawatts of electricity, or 24 times Thailand’s peak power demand recorded this year.
The mineral could create no less than Bt3.6 trillion in income for the country, exclusive of related high-tech industries that could be developed concurrently, said the department’s deputy director-general Somboon Yindeeyoungyuen.
“We’re confident that if an integrated solar-power industry is developed from our indigenous quartz resources, it will generate enormous revenue for the country as well as bringing down the cost of solar power, making it competitive with other choices of energy. And Thailand will become the largest hub of silicon [solar-cell-grade] silicon and solar panels in Asean,” he said.

MYANMAR APPROVES THREE 

The Myanmar Investment Commission has granted permission to three foreign investments, including a garment business.
The MIC met last Thursday to decide about the proposed foreign investment projects.
The projects included a clothing producer, a maker and distributor of soft-drink containers, and an enterprise for power-system installation and maintenance of telecommunication equipment.
Kingsrich Fashion Ltd will run a clothing factory in Yangon region’s Shwepyithar Industrial Zone as a 100-per-cent foreign investment.
Crown Beverage Cans Myanmar Ltd will make soft-drink containers and run a distribution network at Mingaladon Industrial Zone in Yangon as a joint venture.
The services for power-system installation and maintenance of telecommunication equipment will be operated by Linfra Ltd in Hlaingthayar Township as a foreign investment.
The MIC says 2,217 jobs will be created by the new businesses. – Myanmar Eleven

ENERGY SAVING SCHEME FOR SMES 

The Energy Conservation Promotion Fund (ENCON Fund) has joined forces with the Thai ESCO Association to develop a scheme to promote energy conservation among small and medium-sized enterprises.
 Twarath Sutabutr, director-general of the Energy Ministry’s Energy Policy and Planning Office, said most Thai SMEs had been found not to be making sufficient efforts in energy conservation because of technical, personnel, and financial obstacles. Therefore, the ENCON Fund has cooperated with the Thai ESCO Association to implement a project to enhance energy-saving capability of SMEs through giving advice and assistance on energy-conservation activities that require high technical expertise and to help relieve technical and financial risks for the SMEs. 
 The scheme started from organising a workshop for more than 50 SMEs and energy service companies (ESCOs) to enhance their understanding on implementing energy-conservation projects under the ESCO method. Four SMEs were selected to implement energy-saving programmes including adopting high-efficiency motors.
An ESCO-SMEs master plan has been developed for implementation in four phases from this year through 2022. It aims to cut energy usage by 10 kilotonnes of oil equivalent. 

SCG NAMES EXECUTIVE VP
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Siam Cement Group’s board of directors has approved the appointment of Cholanat Yanaranop as SCG’s executive vice president, the second-highest rank after chief executive and president Roongrote Rangsiyopash, effective from the beginning of next year.
Cholanat was earlier senior vice president of the group, in addition to president of SCG Chemical, a position he will maintain.
SCG said Cholanat had played an instrumental role in the continuous growth of SCG Chemical’s revenue and profit, as well as taking responsibility for the group’s activities, such as being chairman of its sustainable development committee and building up research networks internationally and domestically.