NLA members face tough choices in bid to reform energy sector
The National Legislative Assembly is set for a showdown over a contentious bill to reform the energy sector with the establishment of a new national oil company. The bill will be debated in the second and final readings today, while the vote is likely to be a close call as many NLA members are awaiting more clarification on contentious points in the bill. The People’s Network for Thai Energy Reform on March 29 insisted that the proposed national oil company was necessary for managing the country’s oil and gas assets after existing concessions expire. The network said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, who on Tuesday publicly rejected the proposal, had misunderstood the network’s key message in protecting national interests in the energy sector, which have long been exploited by private multinational companies.
