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Egat earmarks Bt70 billion for three projects under ERC sandbox campaign (nationthailand.com)

Egat earmarks Bt70 billion for three projects under ERC sandbox campaign

NationalDec 09. 2020

By THE NATION

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has applied to participate in the Energy Regulatory Commission of Thailand’s (ERC) sandbox campaign to test run new technology and innovations in energy, Egat Research and Innovation director Somchai Chokmawiroj said.

“Three projects were approved by the ERC under a budget of Bt70 billion,” he said. “They are the Energy is Yours project under cooperation with Q House, Property Perfect and SC Asset; the TU Egat Energy project, which will be carried out with Thammasat University Rangsit Campus, and the Sri Saeng Tham Model under cooperation with Wat Pa Sri Saeng Tham in Ubon Ratchathani.”

Somchai said the three projects focus on providing technology and equipment to promote electricity trading among users (peer to peer) at residential, community (temples, schools) and business levels.

“Egat will also pilot new technology in electricity service calculation called Net Metering or Net Billing, as well as other related innovations such as cloud energy storage, micro-grid and load aggregator systems,” he said.

“The Energy is Yours project is currently under the planning and procurement stage, while the other two are undergoing installation of equipment and are expected to be ready for operation by March 2021.

“We expect to submit a preliminary report to the ERC within the fourth quarter of 2021, while the sandbox campaign will end in April 2022,” he said.

“The projects are expected to advance Egat’s technology and innovation in the next 5-10 years, while the ERC sandbox campaign will help promote more Thai start-ups to become ‘unicorns’, or enterprises with a net worth of over $1 billion [Bt30.03 billion],” he added.

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Man, 30, killed after his car slams into barrier, falls off Burapha Withi Expressway (nationthailand.com)

Man, 30, killed after his car slams into barrier, falls off Burapha Withi Expressway

NationalDec 09. 2020

By THE NATION

A man was killed after his car hit a barrier at high speed and careened off Burapha Withi Expressway, also known as Bang Na Expressway, crashing onto the road below early on Wednesday.

Bang Sao Thong police in Samut Prakan province were alerted to the accident at the Km 25 marker at 0.30am. At the scene they found an overturned white Nissan Almera on Debaratna Road (formerly Bang Na-Trad Road), with its roof completely flattened from the impact of falling off the expressway.

Officials had to use a metal cutter to bring the man’s body out, after which it was sent to Chakri Naruebodindra Medical Institute for an autopsy.

He was later identified as Sawat Charnlekha, aged 30.

Witnesses reportedly told police that he was driving at high speed on the expressway above Debaratna Road before the car lost control near the expressway’s exit and slammed into a barrier. The impact sent the car flying off the expressway and onto the road below.

Police are reviewing CCTV footage to determine the exact cause of the accident.

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Workers with social security can change hospitals from Dec. 16 (nationthailand.com)

Workers with social security can change hospitals from Dec. 16

NationalDec 09. 2020

By THE NATION

Workers under social security can change their hospitals to receive medical services from December 16 until March 31, 2021, Social Security Office secretary-general Thossaphol Kritwongwiman said, adding that they can also avail of medical services up to six months after their social security status expires.

“You can submit the form to change hospitals at any provincial social security office, via the www.sso.go.th website or mobile application SSO Connect,” he said.

“This service will help those who wish to change their hospitals due to various reasons, such as shifting their residence or having to travel for work,” Thossaphol said.

“We suggest that insured persons choose their hospitals themselves based on convenience in transport and past experience over the quality of service.

“Do not forget to take along your identification card when receiving medical services at your chosen hospital. In case you are a foreigner, you will need to produce your social security card and passport,” he said.

“All insured workers can also avail of social security at their chosen hospital for six months after their social security status expires,” he added. “If you have any inquiry, contact the provincial security office in your area or Call Centre 1506.”

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Tourists from any country can now apply for Special Tourist Visa (nationthailand.com)

Tourists from any country can now apply for Special Tourist Visa

NationalDec 09. 2020

By THE NATION

The Cabinet has done away with restrictions on nationality for long-stay tourists and tourists who travel on yachts as well as their crews who are allowed to enter Thailand under the Special Tourist Visa (STV), the government’s deputy spokeswoman Ratchada Thanadirek said on Tuesday.

With the gazette announcement, the STV policy takes effect from October 1 for the period until September 30, 2021.

“Previously the STV only allowed in tourists from countries with a low risk of Covid-19 infections under Public Health Ministry regulations,” she said. “However, only 825 persons from 29 countries and six yachts have applied so far, which is lower than government’s estimation.”

The Cabinet therefore agreed to remove the nationality restrictions for tourists applying for the STV, as well as extend the period during which tourists and/or yachts would be inspected and approved to enter Thailand at immigration checkpoints for 30 days, in order to allow more qualified tourists to enter the kingdom and promote tourism.

“Although the nationality restriction is removed, tourists in both groups will still need to comply with other regulations under the STV, which include providing evidence of a place to stay during their long visit and submitting to alternative state quarantine in appointed hospitals or hotels for not less than 14 days,” she added.

Related Story: Thailand now open to long-stay tourists

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Cool to cold weather in upper Thailand, less rain in the South (nationthailand.com)

Cool to cold weather in upper Thailand, less rain in the South

NationalDec 09. 2020

By THE NATION

The North and the Northeast will continue to experience cool to cold weather, with mountaintops being cold to very cold and frost in some areas, the Thailand Meteorological Department forecast on Wednesday. The Central region and the East are also having quite a cold morning.

Meanwhile, the northeast monsoon prevailing across the Gulf of Thailand and the South is weakening, resulting in less rain in these areas, the department said, advising all ships to proceed with caution as waves in the Gulf are 1-2 metres high and about 2 metres in thundershower areas.

Here’s the weather forecast for the next 24 hours:

North: Cool to cold weather; temperature lows of 12-17 degrees and highs of 29-33 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 1-10 degrees Celsius with frost in some areas.

Northeast: Cool to cold weather with strong wind; temperature lows of 12-18 degrees and highs of 29-31 degrees Celsius. Temperature on hilltops is likely to drop to 7-13 degrees Celsius.

Central: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 18-20 degrees, highs of 31-32 degrees Celsius.

East: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 18-22 degrees, highs of 32-33 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres off shore.

South (east coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves 1-2 metres high and 2 metres during thundershowers.

South (west coast): Partly cloudy with thundershowers in 10 per cent of the area; temperature lows of 22-24 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius; waves a metre high and 1-2 metres during thundershowers.

Bangkok and surrounding areas: Cool weather in the morning; temperature lows of 21-23 degrees, highs of 31-34 degrees Celsius.

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Foreign inflows to brighten Thai investment climate through next year: SET strategy chief (nationthailand.com)

Foreign inflows to brighten Thai investment climate through next year: SET strategy chief

NationalDec 09. 2020

By THE NATION

Foreign funds will continue to flow into the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) into next year as the Covid-19 crisis abates, said the SET’s head of corporate strategy on Tuesday.Soraphol Tulayasathien noted that the Thai stock market was currently rising sharply from funds flooding into emerging markets, including Thailand. The SET maintained its upward trend on Tuesday, rising over 2 per cent.He forecast that funds will continue to flow into the markets next year, driven by Covid-19 vaccination and new US trade policies under Joe Biden. The Thai economy had already entered gradual recovery in the third quarter this year, he added.Positive market signals and fund flows next year would help brighten the investment climate, Soraphol said. He added that the most important factor to monitor in the Thai stock market was earnings of listed companies. Industries that grew this year included the food, construction, paper and petrochemical sectors.He said Covid-19 was now only having a slight affect on Thai stocks. Meanwhile, the baht was being driven up mainly by the influx of foreign investment.Separately, UOB Asset Management (UOBAM) advised that given the current low interest rate, emerging-market stocks were a more interesting investment option than bonds, and debentures more attractive than sovereign bonds.It also pointed to the weakening dollar and strengthening Asian currencies as an opportunity for investment in Asia.UOBAM advised investors to purchase healthcare profitable-innovation stocks. The broker also predicted tourism stocks would recover in the second half of 2021.

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Pesticide tests on Thai fruit show red grapes, dates high in chemical contamination (nationthailand.com)

Pesticide tests on Thai fruit show red grapes, dates high in chemical contamination

NationalDec 09. 2020

By The Nation

The Department of Agriculture has ordered an investigation after tests by the Thai Pesticide Alert Network (ThaiPAN) found worrying levels of chemical contamination in fruits and vegetables on sale in markets and malls.

All 30 random samples of red grapes and dates exceeded the maximum residue level (MRL) permitted, while pomelo was the only product found to be safe from chemical contamination.

ThaiPAN tested 509 samples of fruit and vegetables – 201 from six malls and 308 from 10 markets. Among them were locally produced products as well as imports, both certified and non-certified.

In response to the test results, Department of Agriculture director-general Pichet Wiriyapaha has ordered officials to conduct inspections on supermarket fruit and vegetables labelled Organic Thailand, Q GAP, Thai GAP, PGS, or with foreign organic standards. If any are found to exceed maximum residue levels, the relevant certification authority will be told to alert the farmers, he said.

If banned chemicals are found, officials will revoke certification, Pichet added.

He said the department was currently developing biological substances and plant extracts to replace agrochemicals.

“At present, 17 types of biofilms are recommended for farmers to use as part of Good Agricultural Practices [GAP] to kill pests in organic farming systems.”

Registration guidelines for the use of biological and plant extracts to eliminate weeds will be offered soon, he said.

Meanwhile the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under the Public Health Ministry will collaborate on their own inspections of chemical contamination in fruits and vegetables.

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Market capital of IPOs this year soars to Bt500bn (nationthailand.com)

Market capital of IPOs this year soars to Bt500bn

NationalDec 09. 2020

By The Nation

Initial public offerings (IPO)s so far this year are worth almost Bt500 billion in market capital – double the Bt250 billion targeted by the Stock Exchange of Thailand, SET president Pakorn Peetathawatchai said on Tuesday.

This year’s Bt492 billion in IPO market capital was in line with the average yearly increase of Bt250 billion, he said.

“This is good news for the Thai stock market.”

This year’s Bt492 billion extra market capitalisation resulted from IPOs by 22 companies plus one Infrastructure Fund (IFF) and one Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT). Eleven companies plus the IFF and REIT floated on the SET, while the remaining 11 floated on the Market for Alternative Investment (mai), according to SET senior executive vice president Manpong Senanarong.

According to SET information, the IPOs total issue size was Bt124 billion and their offering size was Bt153 billion.

Meanwhile five more companies are waiting to launch IPOs this month, three on the SET and two on the mai, said Manpong.

“We believe that there are no uncertainties that would pressure the stock market in the remainder of this year,” he added.

Nine of the newly listed stocks have dropped in price since their IPOs, with I&I Group Plc (IIG) and Silicon Craft Technology Plc (SICT) seeing the steepest falls of about 200 per cent.

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Sudarat’s new party will cut ties to Thaksin: Watana (nationthailand.com)

Sudarat’s new party will cut ties to Thaksin: Watana

NationalDec 09. 2020

By The Nation

The new party being set up by former Pheu Thai politicians will not be overshadowed by any powerful figure, insists ex-Pheu Thai member Watana Muangsook.

Watana was speaking to Inside Thailand following speculation that the party being launched by Pheu Thai’s former chief strategist Sudarat Keyuraphan would ally with Pheu Thai under its patriarch, former PM Thaksin Shinawatra.

Sudarat’s links with Thaksin go back to 1998, when she co-founded his Thai Rak Thai Party. However, those links appeared to break late last month when she abruptly quit Pheu Thai along with several of her allies. The move came after Thaksin’s ex-wife Khunying Potjaman Na Pombejra reportedly intervened to engineer changes at the top of Pheu Thai.

Watana said the resignation of Sudarat and her allies from the main opposition party was due to ideological differences with other members.

Turning his focus to the country’s current political turmoil, he said the solution was to amend the Constitution to return power to the people.

He said charter change was the biggest issue facing the country but added that it would not be achieved in a day but over a long period of cooperation between people.

Watana was also asked whether the new party would try to get rid of PM Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha so it could join his ruling Phalang Pracharat Party in power.

He answered that the new party would not ally with any other parties.

He also said he had notified the Election Commission of the plan to launch the new party.

The launch date was not revealed but he said the focus of the country should be charter amendment and the setting up of a Constitution Drafting Assembly.

Watana also insisted that the new party would not be influenced by Thaksin or Potjaman.