RATCH shows big first-quarter gains

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating (RATCH) has reported continuous growth in operating performance for the first quarter of 2017.
Profits were Bt1.358 billion, an 8-per-cent increase from the same period last year. Earnings before interest and taxes were Bt2.006 billion, up 6 per cent due to greater profit sharing among joint venture companies.
The company reported total first-quarter revenues of Bt10.59 billion, including Bt8.785 billion from the sale of the Ratchaburi and Tri Energy power plants and those of RATCH-Australia Corp. Sharing profit of joint ventures amounted to Bt527 million, a 47-per-cent rise over last year, while expenses totalled Bt8.848 billion, a 26-per-cent decrease.
As of March 31, total assets were Bt96.749 billion, liabilities Bt33.166 billion, shareholder equity Bt63.583 billion, cash and working capital Bt16.092 billion and retained earnings Bt50.184 billion.
RATCH chief executive Kijja Sripatthangkura said operating performance in the first quarter showed “satisfactory” results, with operating progress as planned. 
He said the firm would this year focus on boosting capacity to 7,500 megawatts, increasing return on assets by power-plant management with an eye to assured reliability and availability, pursuing long-term investment, and diversifying into bother related and non-power businesses to strengthen its base.
“The continued effort to drive the capacity growth is reflected in the investment success of a solar-power project in Australia,” Kijja said, “and two other projects – the Yellow and Pink lines of the Monorail Electric Train and the natural-gas-fired Riau power plant, both of which are in the final stage of the investment process. 
“Once completed, the company’s equivalent capacity will increase by 314.75 megawatts and investment capacity will reach the equivalent of 7,300 megawatts.”