Published in Asian-mena Counsel: Projects & Energy Report 2020
The government is accelerating approvals for important public-private partnership projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor, write Jessada Sawatdipong and David Beckstead of Chandler MHM.
In 2020, Thailand will continue to aggressively move forward with legislation that streamlines implementation of important PPP projects. This legislative trend presents new opportunities for foreign and local investors alike, with a focus particularly in Thailand’s infrastructure sector.
As part of the Thai government’s Eastern Economic Corridor Act BE 2561 (2018) (EEC Act), certain public-private partnership (PPP) projects are underway which will facilitate investment in the EEC. Measures have been implemented to expedite an overall project approval process whereby the approval timeline has been reduced to 8-10 months, compared to a much longer timeline generally required for PPP projects. These regulations are applicable to investment projects deemed highly important as determined by the EEC Policy Committee, which requires submission for consideration prior to approval.
Projects that have received approval include:
U-Tapao Airport and Eastern Airport City
This project has received approval to develop the U-Tapao International Airport; part of the combined U-Tapao and Eastern Airport City project. The aim is to establish a third main international airport in Thailand. Project components include: a third passenger terminal; commercial gateway; phase II air cargo facilities; phase II maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities; phase II aviation training centre; and a free trade zone. The airport project will also serve a passenger link to Don Muang International Airport and Suvarnabhumi International Airport, while supporting growth as a regionally important aviation hub.
High-speed railway connection to three major airports
The High-Speed Rail Linked 3 Airport project makes use of existing structures and routes as implemented in the form of an airport rail link system. The project consists of the current 29km airport rail link route and a to-be constructed route of 191km. The area development, planned to support railroad service in Makkasan (an intersection and neighbourhood in Bangkok’s Ratchathewi district), will be operated in connection with development of the high-speed train project. In October, 2019, the State Railway of Thailand signed a public-private partnership agreement with a consortium led by Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Group, which also included investors from China and Japan.
Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Phase III
Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Phase III involves enhancements to existing infrastructure with an aim to better facilitate shipment of natural gas and raw fluid material for the petrochemical industry. In October, 2019, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand signed a public-private partnership agreement with a joint venture consisting of Gulf Energy Development and PTT Tank Terminal.
Laem Chabang Port Phase III
This expansion project involves creation of a deep-sea port and other facilities, including: implementation of a single rail transfer operator, construction of a larger port and renovation of diverse facilities so as to alleviate internal traffic problems ranging from networking to transportation systems. The bidding process for the Phase III expansion project took place in 2019, but legal challenges have resulted in delay. As of January 2020 the Port Authority of Thailand has not finalised a public-private partnership agreement with private investors.
Digital Park Thailand
The Digital Industry and Innovation Promotion Zone (Digital Park Thailand) will comprise a new economic cluster in the EEC with an aim to become the destination for digital global players and digital biz innovators. It is being planned as a data hub with ultra high-speed broadband infrastructure, including an international submarine cable station, data centre and satellite earth station. With a maximum incentive package including both tax and non-tax measures, ease-of-doing-business incentives and special privileges for investors and digital specialists, the goal is for the development to be Thailand’s premier digital showcase. It will pioneer test beds and adoption of state-of-the-art digital technologies, internet of things and artificial intelligence.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN THAILAND
In 2020, there will continue to be significant activity in Thailand’s energy and infrastructure sectors, which will present attractive opportunities for investors. Chandler MHM expects further growth/developments in these areas during 2020.
Further update on the PDP expected in 2020
In 2019, the Ministry of Energy revised its Power Development Plan (PDP) in order to outline Thailand’s energy priorities over the coming two decades. This plan is known as the “PDP 2018” (as the plan included retroactive policy initiatives dating to 2018), which was itself an update on the previous PDP issued in 2015. The Cabinet formally approved PDP 2018 on April 30, 2019.
PDP 2018 increased projections for electricity to be generated by natural gas and renewable sources, while decreasing projected generating capacity for coal. The long-term plan to build a nuclear power plant is no longer being considered. The other significant development in PDP 2018 is the plan to increase rooftop solar installations. Difficulties in the ability to sell surplus electricity back to the transmission grid have been a major deterrent to more widespread adoption of rooftop solar installations.
Promptly after the adoption of PDP 2018, however, the Ministry of Energy announced that it would continue to make revisions and issue a further update to the PDP. We understand that the majority of the additional policies will focus on the so-called “energy for all” scheme, which is designed to promote small-scale renewable projects (namely, solar, biomass, biogas and waste-to-energy).
As Thailand’s domestic natural gas reserves are nearly depleted, the increased dependency on natural gas as a fuel source for electricity generation will necessitate additional LNG receiving capacity. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is in the planning stages of building the nation’s first floating storage regasification unit, which is expected to attract leading international developers.
CURRENT EVENTS ARE SHAPING THE UPSTREAM OIL & GAS SECTOR Update to PA and PITA
The Petroleum Act, BE 2514 (1971) (PA) and Petroleum Income Tax Act, BE 2514 (1971) were amended in June 2017 to establish the production sharing contract (PSC) and service contract (SC) regimes.
Amendments to Section 23 of the PA include the additions that exploration and production of petroleum now require an application for, and a grant of, a PSC, SC or concession. The authority to determine which form is appropriate will be vested with the Ministry of Energy, with rules and procedures to be published with the approval of the Council of Ministers.
Auction of Erawan and Bongkot
The current concessions for the Bongkot and Erawan gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand are due to expire in 2022 and 2023. Bids for the Bongkot and Erawan blocks were submitted on September 25, 2018 and this tender was the first time the Ministry of Energy offered petroleum producers the opportunity to operate under a PSC. The Bongkot field is currently operated under a concession by PTTEP with Total Petroleum holding a minority interest, whereas the Erawan concession is operated by Chevron with Mitsui holding a minority interest.
There was limited interest in the tenders from outside tenderers, with each PSC only attracting two bids. Chevron and Mitsui submitted joint bids for each PSC; PTTEP submitted a joint bid with Mubadala Petroleum for the Erawan PSC, and PTTEP submitted a solo bid for the Bongkot PSC.
Winning bidders were announced in December 2018, with PTTEP winning the Bongkot PSC and PTTEP and Mubadala Petroleum winning the Erawan PSC.
Decommissioning
Decommissioning of offshore installations is still in its infancy in Thailand and petroleum producers have taken many positive steps in preparing for the decommissioning exercise. The Department of Mineral Fuels, Ministry of Energy (DMF), has been coordinating with concessionaires as the decommissioning of offshore installations commences. Currently, the DMF is reviewing and approving decommissioning plans and decommissioning environmental assessment reports, submitted by various concessionaires. There is no publicly available data relating to the status of this review.
In 2016, the Ministry of Energy promulgated the Ministerial Regulation Prescribing Plans and Estimated Costs and Security for Decommissioning of Installations Used in the Petroleum Industry, BE 2559 (2016) (the Decommissioning Regulation). The Decommissioning Regulation outlines specifics on the concessionaire submitting a decommissioning plan and an estimate of decommissioning costs, a decommissioning environmental assessment report and a best practical environmental option report to the Director-General of the DMF — within prescribed timelines.
The Director-General is charged with issuing notifications under the Decommissioning Regulation to provide for greater clarity and specificity on concessionaires’ obligations. There have been a number of notifications issued by the Director-General, including those related to qualifications of expert appraisers and to the rules and procedures for preparing decommissioning environmental plans and management processes.
Some concessionaires have openly disputed the costs imposed by the Decommissioning Regulation, arguing that the principles conflict with the terms of the Concession Agreements and the PA. It is not clear whether any of these disputes will be resolved in 2020.
21st bid round
The Ministry of Energy announced in October 2014 the 21st bid round for petroleum concessions, which included 29 exploration blocks. The deadline for submission of bids was originally set for February 18, 2015, or a new date as may be specified by future public notice.
On October 27, 2014, an NGO filed a complaint to the Administrative Court to suspend the 21st bid round. The Administrative Court accepted this case, and there were a number of subsequent challenges to the 21st bid round, which was finally cancelled on February 26, 2015, pending enactment of amendments to the PA.
Officials within the Ministry of Energy have indicated that a new 21st bid round will occur in the future, though there is no concrete timeline on the horizon.
BACKGROUND: EASTERN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (EEC)
The Eastern Economic Corridor Act BE 2561 (2018) (EEC Act) was published on May 14, 2018. It applies in three eastern provinces: Rayong, Chonburi and Chachoengsao, and prescribes a number of incentives for private investment. It complements and builds on the Board of Investment (BOI) regime. On August 17, 2018 a new Notification was issued to stimulate investment in target industries in the Promoted Zone of the EEC, and to encourage private participation in the development of human resources. A one-stop service to facilitate the issuance of permits and licences under various laws has been established to facilitate the startup of business in the Promoted Zones.
Promoted Zone
The Promoted Zone of the EEC consists of the following:
1. Special Promoted Zone for Specific Areas:
• Eastern Airport City or EEC-A
• Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation or EECi
• Digital Park Thailand or EECd
2. Promoted Zone for Target Industries (as announced and prescribed by the EEC Development Policy Committee):
3. Promoted Industrial Estate or Industrial Zone:
The promoted activities in the Industrial Estate or Industrial Zone are, for example:
Section 1: Agriculture and agricultural products;
Section 2: Mineral, ceramics and basic metals;
Section 3: Light industry;
Section 4: Metal products, machinery and transport equipment;
Section 5: Electrical appliances and electronic industry;
Section 6: Chemicals, plastics and papers;
Section 7: Service and public utilities; and
Section 8: Technology and innovation development.
To fulfil the goals of the Notification, the BOI has created tax incentives for those investing in the Promoted Zone, with the requirement to cooperate with an educational institution or programme to develop human resources or technology. In particular for the development of human resources, a cooperative plan with the institution or programme identified to accept students for vocational training must be submitted. The BOI has set a minimum number of students to be accepted, which varies depending on the zone under which the project is applying, and the number of employees required for the project. Tax privileges include the exemption or reduction of taxes; right to bring in foreign experts in certain fields; 50-year land leases, with the right to renew for up to 49 years; the right to own land and condominiums for the purpose of business activities; exemptions from exchange control regulations; and exemptions from customs law compliance.
E: jessada.s@mhm-global.com
E: david.b@mhm-global.com
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