Thai Ambassador to Abu Dhabi received Minister of Energy and his delegation

            Amb. Karn Chiranond received H.E. Mr. Wannarat Channukul, Minister of Energy and sponse, high ranking officials from Ministry of Energy, and executives from PTT and PTTEP on the occasion of their visit to Abu Dhabi to attend the GASTECH 2009 conference and exhibition during 24 – 26 May 2009.

            GASTECH 2009 is the largest international conference and exhibition for the LNG, LPG and natural gas industries. Business matching and exchange of information and expertise are the main objectives of the function. This year, Abu Dhabi had the opportunity to host the 4 day long event during 25 – 28 May 2009, and welcome over 400 companies from 32 different countries including PTT and its subsidiaries. On this occasion, H.E. the Minister of Energy delivered a speech on global economic downturn and its impact on energy and gas sector, and concluded with Thailand’s potential in producing gas, the possibility of constructing a gas run power plant, and Thailand’s readiness to cooperate with her international partners that excel in this area. All this is to accommodate the expanding consumption of gas in the future.

            On 26 May 2009, Ambassador hosted a luncheon in honour of H.E. the Minister and delegation at his Abu Dhabi residence before their onward departure to Oman. During the meal, the Embassy provided the delegation with some information regarding UAE’s renewable and alternative energy policy as evidenced by the plan to construct nuclear energy power plant to accommodate increasing consumption of electricity and due for completion in 2017, the construction of the first prototype waste and carbon free MASDAR city by mainly utilizing solar enegry which is due to be completed in 2016, and the buying of 9.1 % stake in Germany based Daimler AG by Aabar Investments PJSC where the two partners will be cooperating on the development of electric vehicles. One should note that the above mentioned green energy policy is apparently contrasting to the energy policy of those oil abundant countries.