EEC projects on track despite post-election muddle, transport official says
IT’S BUSINESS as usual for the development of key infrastructure projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), says a senior minister, who insists the government is not in a caretaker role in the unclear aftermath of the general election.
Deputy Transport Minister Pailin Chuchottaworn said the incumbent government has the full authority to proceed with every project as scheduled, highlighting the five biggest ones planned for the economic zone.
Pailin said that these projects are for the U-Tapao airport and Aviation City developments, an aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul centre, the third phase of Laem Chabang Port and the Map Ta Phut Port, and a high-speed railway.
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) acting governor Worawut Mala said that a Charoen Pokphand Group (CP Group)-led consortium, which offered the lowest bid for the Bt224-billion high-speed railway linking the three main airports – the Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports serving Bangkok and the U-Tapao facility in Rayong – has agreed to withdraw some offers that are outside the terms of reference (TOR). It has not yet finalised the financial issues with its partners in China, Worawut said on the Spring 26 TV channel.
The negotiations with the government were postponed from yesterday to April 4.
“There are over 10 proposed changes to the original conditions in the TOR and the suspended issues mainly involve funding,” Worawut said.
“As this project is a joint investment project, funding must be well considered. Initially, CP Group had not been able to find low-cost funds. But now, it can find low-cost funds and has asked for time to negotiate with its partners.”
He also expressed confidence that the negotiations on April 4 will conclude successfully.
According to the Royal Thai Navy, three consortiums submitted bids on March 21 to develop U-Tapao airport and to work on the Eastern Airport City project.
An announcement on the qualified bidders will be delayed from this week, with the need to for detailed checks on the information provided by the bidders. The winning bid for this project is expected in April.
CP Group and its allies that formed a consortium include Thana Holding Joint Venture and, and aside from Thana Holding, are expected to include Orient Success International, Italian-Thai Development, Ch Karnchang and B Grimm Joint Venture Holding.
Another bidder, BBS Joint Venture, comprises Bangkok Airways, BTS Group Holding and Sino-Thai Engineering, while the third bidder, Grand Consortium, drew together Property Perfect, Asia Aviation and Christiani & Nielsen (Thai).
All bidders’ four envelopes will be taken into consideration. The first envelope will prove general qualifications with legal status, financial track record and technical qualifications. The second envelope will relate to technical proposals with a master plan review for the airport, the third passenger terminal design, a project plan and maintenance and operational plans, as well as proposed business plan.
The third envelope will offer price a proposal with financial models and the offers of a return to the state. The fourth envelope will involve additional offers, which will not be related to the assessment.
