Briefs
GPSC close to power plant financing
GPSC, the power and electricity flagship of PTT Group, expects to secure bank loans shortly to finance the 10 billion yen (Bt3.15-billion) Ichinoseki solar power plant project in Japan.
The company yesterday |celebrated its successful start of the 20.8-megawatt solar farm as the first pilot project outside the county and Asean.
“We expect to secure loans shortly, expecting 80 per cent of the project investment,” president Teomchai Bunnag said yesterday.
The project’s construction is 32 per cent complete, which is earlier than expected, and the output is expected to be sold in the last quarter of next year.
The project will adopt the German technology of photovoltaic modules made of polycrystalline from Conergy. There will be 95,854 solar panels contained on 560 rai of land.
GPSC has signed a 20-year power purchasing agreement with Tohoku Electric Power with the feed-in-tariff rate set at 40 yen (Bt12.6) per unit throughout the contract.
Bangchak firm on keeping retail prices
Bangchak Petroleum plans to hold its retail prices steady over Songkran from April 12-18 even if world oil prices move up, in a bid to “return happiness” to the people during the Thai New Year.
“On the other hand, if world oil prices decline, we will cut pump prices accordingly,” president Chaiwat Kovavisarach said yesterday.
Beverage makers told of 'sugar tax'
Thai beverage makers should brace for the United Kingdom’s plan to levy a “sugar tax” in two years, the International Trade Promotion Department said yesterday.
The tax on non-alcoholic beverages is expected to raise 520 million pounds (Bt25 billion) a year for promoting sports activities in schools.
Director-general Malee Choklumlerd said the collection covers soft drinks, juices and energy drinks containing over five milligrams of sugar per 100 millilitres, due to problems over obesity that causes the government to spend huge budgets for curing diabetes and treating the heart disease of its population.
“Thai businesses should continue developing their products to cater to the low-sugar and health-drinks trends, coupled with environmentally-friendly and fair-to-farmers products, she said.
