Economy and commerce
Investment
Plans spilt for oil refinery
A mysterious cluster of crude oil storage tanks recently constructed on the coast near Kampot are linked to a $400 million project by timber baron Try Pheap to build an industrial park and oil refinery, government officials confirmed on December 21. The five 2-million-litre tanks ...
BASF plant to produce construction chemicals in Myanmar
Germany’s BASF is building a plant in Myanmar to produce chemicals for the booming domestic construction industry, and to fill a need for more advanced materials. “As Myanmar’s construction industry grows more sophisticated in its scope, which includes high-rise buildings, roadways and bridges, the requirement ...
PM outlines measures to drive growth, curb spending
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith on December 20 instructed authorities to ensure the macro-economy was stabilised along with improving the investment climate as key factors to attract investment and drive growth. The premier gave the advice during a two-day meeting that ended yesterday. The meeting was convened ...
Co-founders of 500 TukTuks shine
The Nation is this year naming not one, but two individuals as its “Businessman of the Year” – Natavudh “Moo” Pungcharoenpong and Ruangroj “Krating” Poonpoa, the co-managers of 500 TukTuks, the most active venture-capital fund investing in start-ups in Thailand. This is in recognition of ...
Lai Châu hydro-power plant inaugurated
Electricity of Việt Nam on December 20 inaugurated the Lai Châu hydro-electricity plant in Nam Nhun District in the northern mountain province of Lai Châu. The plant has begun operations one year ahead of the National Assembly’s resolution. The VNĐ35.7 trillion (US$1.6 billion) plant has ...
Study maps 187 land conflicts as palm oil expands in Kalimantan
Palm oil production in Indonesia often comes at the expense of traditionally managed lands as well as the livelihoods of indigenous communities, causing widespread conflict in the archipelago country. With oil palm cultivation set to double in Indonesia over the next 10 years, methods for understanding ...
Lessons from the $2 billion coal mining lawsuit against Indonesia
Indonesia cannot be held liable for $2 billion in compensation sought by Churchill Mining for the revocation of a coal-mining concession, the World Bank’s International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ruled in a Dec. 6 verdict. The tribunal determined that Churchill’s claim to the ...
Egco kicks off latest wind farm
SET-listed Electricity Generating Plc (Egco) said its latest 80-megawatt wind farm in Chaiyaphum province has started commercial operation, helping to generate more revenue for the company as well as support renewable energy. President and chief executive Chanin Chaonirattisai said the power plant has total contracted capacity of ...
Villagers wary of M’kiri mine project
An environmental impact assessment released on Friday for a $245 million mining project slated to begin operations in Mondolkiri province next year has raised concerns about its potential effects on the environment and local communities. The project, proposed by the Chinese-owned Alex Corporation, would see ...
Shut gold mine shows investors risks of Thai junta rule
When Thailand’s junta leader-turned-prime minister used his absolute power to suspend gold mining, causing an Australian miner’s shares to plummet 19% in a single day, he complicated efforts to attract foreign investors already spooked by military rule. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha announced the order last ...