Thailand, Cambodia eager to end question
Asia will hold talks along with Cambodia over a 26, 000 sq km overlapping claims region (OCA) estimated to keep up to 500 million barrels of coal and oil deposits under the seafloor.
The move comes following efforts by the two countries to work with each other to develop new power sources and this requires first ironing away the territorial challenge.
Deputy Prime Minister and Energy Minister Supattanapong Punmeechaow said on Tuesday the combined development was likely to form part of the government’s long-term policy.
The government wants to both encourage individuals to be self-reliant within clean energy as well as seek new sources of energy by phoning bids for oil concessions and keeping energy talks with neighbouring countries such as Cambodia.
“In seeking brand new energy sources, especially in neighbouring countries with potential energy sources such as Cambodia, if the talks begin and finish earlier, we hope we will shortly be able to make use of these resources, and for the next 10 years, as most of infrastructure is now offered to the benefit of both Asia and Cambodia, inch Mr Supattanapong said.
He also said the government has set up a committee to look in to ways to jointly develop the overlapping promises area and the International Affairs Ministry can lead negotiations with Cambodia on the matter.
“But currently, there are some details that need to be analyzed. For example , the Foreign Ministry is still concerned about some border demarcations and will have to discover solutions and explain the matter to the open public. But the sooner the particular economic cooperation starts, the better, ” Mister Supattanapong said.
According to a written report on Aug 23 in the Phnom Penh Publish , Cambodia is ready to meet Thailand just for talks as both nations strive to avert potential energy downturn further down the line.
Khomgrich Tantravanich, secretary-general of Thailand’s Energy Regulatory Commission rate, suggested policymakers associated with both countries be vocal and establish a clear but positive dialogue over the long-disputed OCA in the Gulf of mexico of Thailand.
The OCA overlaps the Cambodian and Thai borders in the gulf and it has been a point of contention since the early 1970s.
A memorandum associated with understanding to with each other explore the OCA was signed within 2001 but was afterwards shelved by the Thailänder government in 2009. Phone calls to rekindle negotiations on oil and gas advancement in the region have re-emerged time and again with different degrees of success.
However , with spiralling global need and prices designed for oil and gas, buoyed by economic reopening as well as the Ukraine crises, discussions may take a different convert this time.
Speaking at a press conference earlier this particular month, Cambodia’s mines and energy ressortchef (umgangssprachlich), Meng Saktheara, said that although the leaders of both countries have called for a speedy resolution, talks make little progress.
Mr Saktheara proposed the nations follow the model established by the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Development Area, while Cambodian ministry director-general for petroleum Cheap Sour told The Blog post they are “ready” to discuss.
Meanwhile, deputy government spokeswoman Rachada Dhnadirek stated the cabinet upon Tuesday approved the draft agenda for the meeting which will be held via videoconference upon Friday.
The two sides may discuss various areas of cooperation such as administration of cross-border vacation, trade and expenditure, labour and industrial cooperation, and general public health and community advancement.
