Energy reform: Activists vs industry insiders

Unable to march because of martial law, energy activists got something better yesterday โ€“ a chance to debate industry insiders face to face. The discussion, moderated by Luang Pu Buddha Isara, was lively, informative, but inconclusive.

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Luang Pu Buddha Isara moderated the energy reform forum, held by the Petroleum Institute of Thailand at the Army Club on Wednesday. (Photos by Patipat Janthong)

Energy reform: Activists vs industry insiders

Their street marches suspended by martial law regulations, energy activists instead got the chance to debate industry insiders face-to-face yesterday in a reform forum sponsored by the National Council for Peace and Order.

Yesterday's debate, held at the Royal Thai Army Club, took place after Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha said last Friday that energy reform is a complicated issue and he wanted those involved to talk to find a conclusion.

No agreements were reached, but the discussions were lively and detailed, leaving many in the audience hoping for more forums in the future.

Both sides did agree to summarise their points and submit evidence to the Supreme Administrative Court.

On the one side, were academics and groups who believe that if PTT, which was privatised in 2001, operated in the best interests of the public rather than its shareholders’, energy prices could be lower.

The other participants were representatives from PTT, the Energy Ministry and related agencies, who answered questions.

Luang Pu Buddha Isara, a leader of the People’s Democratic Reform Committee (PDRC), acted as the moderator.

Activist Veera Somkhwamkid, who just hours before had been released from police detention, confronts energy industry representatives over their failure to return PTT pipeline assets to the state.

Activist Veera Somkhwamkid, who was earlier detained by police after he led a group of energy activists to rally for an overhaul of Thailand’s energy sector, was taken from a police station to participate in the forum.

He and seven others were released from custody without charges being laid.

Mr Veera complained at the meeting that PTT failed to transfer pipelines and other assets to the state following an Administrative Court ruling.

He cited the Auditor-General’s Office which earlier pointed out that the energy firm had not transferred all of its assets as it had left out offshore pipelines.

PTT chief executive officer Pailin Chuchottaworn insisted PTT did not need to return the offshore pipelines because they were not acquired by seizing other people’s land.

PTT's chief executive officer, Pailin Chuchottaworn, (left) responds to criticism from reform advocates. PTT executives become irritated by repetitive questions, saying they were not defendants in a court of law.

The discussion became heated when Parnthep Pourpongpan, spokesman for the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), asked whether LPG usage by the petrochemical industry was higher than the amount used by all Thais.

Manoon Siriwan, an independent energy expert, explained if gas usage in the transport sector was included, the amount used by the public was comparable to the quantity used by the petrochemical sector.

But Mr Panthep brought out new documents and asked the same question, irritating PTT's executives who said they were not defendants in a court of law. "Asking the same question repeatedly to get the answer one wants is no way of learning," they said.

At this point, Luang Pu had to intervene.

The Q&A session became lively when Luang Pu himself asked questions.

"How come Thais who have become poorer have to pay so much for energy?" he asked.

Mr Veera also demanded that PTT's representatives on stage reveal how many shares they hold in the energy firm and what benefits and bonuses they got as directors.

Again, Luang Pu had to intervene by banning questions which did not help solve the problems.

Adapted from a front-page story in today's Bangkok Post by Patsara Jikkham

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