Burma ready to sign petroleum concession : Surapong
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New Delhi - Good relations with Burma and recognition of mutual benefits have yielded fast results as Naypyidaw has agreed to sign the petroleum concession with PTTEP shortly after New Year, Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul said on Tuesday.
He denied that former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra had been in any way involved.
Surapong and energy minister Pichai Naripthaphan discussed the matter with Burma’s energy minister Than Htay in Naypyidaw when they accompanied Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to the 4th summit of Greater Mekong Sub-region last week.
The Burmese energy authority informed Thailand by phone over the weekend that it was ready and that the PTT Exploration and Production Co should go to sign the concession contract on natural gas in block M3 by January 5-6, Surapong said.
Surapong said he did not know the details of the concession contract that the Thai company would sign. Energy minister Pichai would witness the signing ceremony.
Block M3, is located in the Gulf of Martaban south of Rangoon, contains good quality natural gas, the by-product of which could be used in the petrochemical industry, he said.
Opposition Democrat Party alleged that former Prime Minister Thaksin, who was in Burma shortly before Yingluck’s visit, helped in paving the way for the signing of concession contract. Thaksin has a personal interest in the gas deal, the party said.
Surapong said Thaksin has nothing to do with the negotiations and that it was his government who had been able to convince the Burmese counterpart to reach agreement.
Thailand could help Burma to develop its petrochemical industry by using by-products of the natural gas from block M3, he said. The government would invite representatives from Burma to study the petrochemical industry in Thailand, he said.
In fact, the PTTEP has been dealing with Burma on the gas concession for a long time but no progress had been made during the previous government’s term due to cold relations between the two countries, Surapong said.
“Former Prime Minister Thaksin has no stake in the deal. If the Democrats can prove he has any interests in the concession, I would ask him to hand over the stakes to them,” Surapong said. “Otherwise, they should stop such allegations, which hurt the national interest.”
