Telcos to help in properly managing overhead cables in Bangkok

Telecom service providers will be asked to tidy up their overhead cables in Bangkok, in a fresh bid to speed up the plan by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to put all cables underground.

Placing partial onus on the telcos is one of the proposals made during a meeting today (Friday) of representatives of the NBTC, the MEA and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), chaired by Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda.

The meeting stems from the fire at Chinatown’s Sampeng market on June 26th, in which two people lost their lives and a few others suffered the effects of smoke inhalation. The fire is believed to have started in an old transformer and flames spread along the cables to adjoining shop houses.

It was agreed at the meeting that all overhead cables in Bangkok, which include high voltage, low voltage and communications cables, must be properly separated and bundled by type, for convenient management, before they are moved underground.

It was pointed out during the meeting that there are more than ten sets of telecommunication cables belonging to separate service providers.

General Anupong said that if these cables could be bundled together, they would look less messy, adding that redundant cables should be removed.

He noted that all the telecommunications service providers must work together on how they will manage the cables and whether they can afford to do the job, adding that the NBTC, the regulatory body for telecom services, should play a role in this endeavour, to manage the overhead cables properly.

Representatives of the NBTC accepted that some of the overhead telecom cables are still needed, but they must be properly bundled. It was proposed during the meeting that work would be done in phases and that service providers should be responsible for their own cables.

According to the MEA, the plan to bury the power cables in Bangkok, covering a distance of 127 km on 39 routes, is estimated to cost 48 billion baht over five years.

Rajavithi Road was chosen as the first area where overhead power and telecommunications cables were moved into underground ducts. Work commenced in July 2016. (Thai PBS World)

Yellow and Pink lines to begin trial runs this year

The Yellow and Pink monorail lines are expected to begin trial runs in October, with partial operations to start early next year, according to Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob.

Speaking after inspecting the progress of the lines, Mr Saksayam said passengers can expect to use monorail services some time between January and March.

The 30.4-kilometre Yellow Line will have 23 stations in total, shuttling commuters between Lat Phrao in Bangkok and Samrong in Samut Prakan, while the 34.5km-long Pink Line will have 30 stations, linking Khae Rai in Nonthaburi with Min Buri district in east Bangkok via Ram Inthra Road.

Construction of the 49-billion-baht Yellow Line is 93% finished, while the 52.6-billion-baht Pink Line is 88.5% complete, Mr Saksayam said.

Transport officials estimated the number of passengers in the first year of operation will be about 190,000–200,000 per route, and fares are likely to range from 14 baht to 42 baht based on information published in 2016.

Mr Saksayam said the Department of Rail Transport will hold talks with the system operator to go over the fare structure again.

He added the ministry will negotiate with the operators of other mass transit systems over a possible waiver of entry fees for commuters who change routes on their journey.

Mr Saksayam said construction of the extended section of the Pink Line, between Si Rat and Muang Thong Thani stations, has begun and the work is expected to take three years.

The Yellow and Pink line monorails are part of the Mass Rapid Transit Master Plan in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, a plan for developing primary and secondary public transport networks by 2029.

Both systems are managed by the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand. (Bangkok Post)

Thais prefer to live close to hospitals, not public transportation

Thai consumers now prioritise healthcare facilities and want to avoid busy and crowded locations. The outbreak of Covid 19 has altered real estate demand away from easy access to public transportation and toward hospitals and better healthcare.

A survey was conducted by DDproperty during the first half of 2022, where they asked 1,000 locals aged between 22 and 69 about their preferences for living and property purchases.

88% of respondents preferred a home near a hospital. 65% of those surveyed preferred housing close to amenities like banks and supermarkets. 66% said they avoided travelling to crowded places.

Customers’ top priority when selecting a property is to buy somewhere close to hospitals, according to the country manager of DDproperty, Kamolpat Swaengkit.

“Covid-19 has spurred awareness about accessibility to healthcare services. Consumers want a residential unit in locations that can easily reach hospitals to help plan their long-term healthcare.”

In the past, living close to public transportation was a priority until 2022, when it fell to third place with 59% of the votes.

“This is the first time proximity to hospitals has scored so highly. It shows people are more concerned about their health now than previously.”

Thais, according to the survey, also value the developer’s financial incentives, such as discounts or cash back. The developer’s catalogue of previous projects also comes into play when they choose a property.

According to the research, the habits of customers have changed, with over 60% now paying more attention to their health and having a better lifestyle.

Nearly 60% of those surveyed said they preferred to have a job that would allow them to work at home, or at least have a flexible schedule.

Half of respondents said they had spent more time with their loved ones, but 31% said they are still worried about Covid because some of their loved ones had been sick with the virus. (The Thaiger)

PTT Forest Learning Centers Reservation System

Metro Forest

According to the PTT’s policy, which emphasizes on the environment. In 1994, PTT had volunteered 1 million Rai (1 Rai= a unit of area equal to 1,600 square meters) reforested nationwide in the reforestation project in honor of His Majesty the late King Bhumipol Adulyadej on the occasion of the 50th year of his reign from the achievement of his implementation for 25 years in the reforestation nationwide more than 1 million Rai. PTT has been developed and provided “PTT Reforestation and Ecosystem Institution” to conduct the mission of reforestation and ecosystem restoration, promoting, developing the networks for sustainable forest conservation including provided 3 learning centers in order to spread the knowledge to the public by cooperated with the government providing Sirinart Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center in Prachuap Khiri Khan province and another 2 learning centers on PTT’s land including Wangchan Forest Learning Center in Rayong province and Metro Forest in Bangkok.

  PTT intends to make Metro Forest become a learning center about the forest and ecosystem that combines a beauty of landscape architecture including being a green area for Bangkok people on PTT’s land 12 Rai. Previously this area is an empty land and waste dump area, under the conception of planting the forest for Bangkok people by gathered the knowledge about 1 million Rai reforestation nationwide to build on Eco Forest that mock up the forest in the past which has a variety of traditional plants and rare species more than 270 kinds by applying the Eco Forest restoration theory of Professor, Akira Miyawaki PhD. in conjunction with PTT’s reforestation knowledge to designed and allocated the area into 3 parts including planting forest area for 9 Rai or 75%, water source for 1 Rai or 10% and learning building area for 2 Rai or 15%. It makes Metro Forest being both learning center and natural tourism place for Bangkok people or new generation who growing up in the city to get an opportunity to know and get an exclusive close up with the forest, it’s not essential to travel for long distance far away and you can have realized and jointly conserve natural resources sustainably

Wangchan Forest

 From the mission of PTT Public Company Limited regarding social and environmental responsibilities, in 1994 PTT voluntarily participated in the Reforestation Project commemoration of the Royal Jubilee of His Majesty the King Bhumibol Adulyadej by planting 1 Million Rai (0.16 Million Hectare). After 25 years, PTT has perfectly achieved its target in forest restoration in different regions of the country. In 2013, PTT upgraded the reforestation project to “PTT Reforestation and Ecosystem Institute (PTT-RFEI)” to engage its networks and encourage sustainable forest. Besides, it is required to establish the knowledge and innovation for sustainable forest management through our working experience and become learning-based to share our achievement to the public. Therefore, PTT collaborated with public enterprise and established 3 learning centers:

Sirinath Rajini Ecosystem Learning Center, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Metro Forest Learning Center, Bangkok
Wangchan Forest Learning Center, Rayong 

Hence, PTT established “Wangchan Forest Learning Center” under the concept of developing a learning center for comprehensive forest management. The center aims to be a demonstrative area for reforestation and a place where knowledge and innovation are researched using various methods on forest restoration. “Wangchan Forest Learning Center” is a forest area with plenty of diverse tree species which comprises native species in Eastern Thailand and other parts of the country, also to be a learning-based activity hub for students and the general public, as well as to be a new ecotourism destination in eastern Thailand. On 6th August 2015, Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the opening ceremony of Wangchan Forest Learning Center, which has been operating since then.

Sirinart Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center

   Sirinart Rajini Mangrove Ecosystem Learning Center is the Thailand’s first specialty learning center of mangrove forest restoration from shrimp farming and it is located in the Forest plantation target area, FPT 29 and FPT29/3 of Khlong kao- Khlong khoi national forest reserve, Pak Nam Pran subdistrict, Pranburi district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province, which is one of the area in the reforestation projects in commemoration of King Rama IX’s 50th anniversary of his accession to the throne.      In 1981 – 1991, the green areas in Pranburi was destroyed by shrimp farming which totally polluted the soil. Until in 1996 His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great and Her Majesty Queen Sirikit The Queen Mother visited Pran Buri forest park and noticed there were abandon area where the land was destroyed by shrimp farming, causing both of them concerned about the situation of the mangrove forest in the Pran River estuary which affected the way of life of the people in the area such as fishery. The Royal Forest department has responded to the royal initiative by canceling shrimp farming and merged the area as part of the Pak Nam Pran Buri Forest Development Project. In addition, the Forest Plantation Target (FPT) has been designated as 399 rai of FPT 29 and 387 rai of FPT 29/3, totally 786 rai.The PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) is the state enterprise responsible for national energy security. The PTT considers natural and environmental resources restoration with an emphasis on the forest. Therefore, when the royal forest department was form the project ‘5 million rais reforestation in commemoration of the Royal Golden Jubilee reforestation project of King RAMA 9 project’ in 1994, PTT voluntarily participated in “1 million rais reforestation project” (about 160,000 hectares) on 413 FPT all over the country and 48 provinces, Including the area of FPT 29, FPT 29/3.

https://learningcenter.pttreforestation.com/en/

Thailand’s electricity price may increase to ฿5/unit in September-December

The Energy Regulatory Commission of Thailand may increase the fuel adjustment tariff (FT) rate for electricity,which will drive up the price of electricity, from 4 baht to 5 baht per unit, from September through December.

Rising fuel costs and the inflation and exchange rates over a certain period of time will be taken into account whencalculating the new FT rate, which is expected to be increased to 90 satang – one baht per unit when the commission meetsthis week.

It was pointed out that the price of LNG (liquefied natural gas), which is the main source of fuel for electricity generation in the country, has increased from about US$20 per million BTU, during the last quarter, to about US$30 per million BTU this quarter.

In addition, it is still unclear when LNG production, from the Erawan offshore field in the Gulf of Thailand, will resume normal output, after the change of concessionaire from US-based Chevron to PTT Exploration and Production Plc (PTTEP).

Chevron has operated the Erawan gas block since 1981.

In December last year, Chevron and PTTEP signed multiple agreements aimed at facilitating the smooth transition of the operation of the offshore Erawan gas condensate field to PTTEP.

PTTEP also won the concession to operate the Bongkot field, starting next year.

Erawan and Bongkot have a combined production capacity of 2.11 billion cubic feet of gas per day.