Thailand
Thailand: EEC projects worth B745bn eyed for 2018
Big-ticket infrastructure projects worth 745 billion baht are scheduled to get started next year in the much-touted Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).
According to Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, next year’s investment plan for the EEC covers 103 projects, most of them due to finish in a five-year period.
“Infrastructure development in the EEC has to be sped up to convince and facilitate private investment,” he said.
Projects to be launched next year include improvements to roads linking Laem Chabang port and U-tapao airport, a Map Ta Phut port expansion and development of highways in the three EEC provinces.
Others are the third phase of Laem Chabang port, the aircraft repair and maintenance hub at U-tapao and the Bangkok-Rayong high-speed rail network.
The government expects terms of reference (ToR) to be issued by the first quarter of next year for the third phase of Laem Chabang port, thus enabling public-private investment.
The Laem Chabang port expansion is estimated to require an 88-billion-baht investment. The project aims to double capacity to accommodate cargo containers of 18 million 20-foot equivalent units.
Thai Airways International and Airbus are scheduled to sign a joint venture agreement in the next few weeks on the aircraft repair and maintenance project under the first phase of U-tapao airport’s expansion.
Total investment in the U-tapao project is forecast to top 200 billion baht, with other projects in the first phase including a 675-rai commercial area, a new passenger terminal, a new runway, a 200-rai training centre and a free-trade zone spanning 1.52 million square metres.
The ToR of those projects in the first phase will likely be issued by the first quarter of 2018.
The U-tapao expansion is part of a plan to promote Thailand as a regional aviation hub. After raising capacity to 15 million passengers in the first phase over five years, the second phase calls for servicing 30 million passengers within a decade. The final stage would handle 60 million passengers after 15 years.
Mr Arkhom said the development plan for U-tapao will go before the EEC Policy Committee chaired by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Nov 17.
The ToR for the 158-billion-baht Bangkok-Rayong high-speed rail is to be issued later this year. The rail will link U-tapao, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.
Source: https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1357747/eec-projects-worth-b745bn-eyed-for-2018