THAI AND JAPANESE ORGANIZATIONS PARTNER
TOWARD CARBON NEUTRAL INDUSTRIAL ESTATE
IN MAP TA PHUT

Under the MOC, the parties will work together to conduct a feasibility study toward implementing and managing clean energy infrastructure, such as hydrogen, solar power and bio energy, and zero emission transportation in the MapTa Phut Industrial Estate and its surrounding area. Subject to further discussion, the current ideas include promoting production, use and storage of renewable energy, developing a demonstration project to use hydrogen in the MapTa Phut area, promoting use of zero emission vehicles including fuel cell electric vehicles powered by clean hydrogen, and using cutting-edge technology for energy management.

 

Under the government’s policies such as BCG (bio, circular and green) Economy, various efforts are being made to achieve economic development through decarbonization and other environmentally-friendly measures in Thailand. Toward the goal, it is essential to reduce carbon footprint in energy’s entire lifecycle, from production to storage, transportation and use. It is also important to diversify energy sources for maximizing the use of various renewable energy.

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In that context, hydrogen has great potential. Hydrogen can be produced with a wide range of renewable and clean energy such as biomass, and liquid hydrogen can be stored and transported more easily than electricity. When used and converted into electricity, hydrogen emits nothing but water. The collaborative study announced today is expected to help identify benefits and challenges yet to be solved regarding hydrogen and other clean energy, toward future implementation. Through the study, the participating entities will collaborate to establish a sustainable energy ecosystem, for decarbonization in the entire lifecycle from the production, management and use of renewable energy, including transportation.

 

This collaboration also aims to contribute to the Thai government’s “Thailand 4.0” vision toward the next generation industrial revolution through advanced technology implementation, for which the Eastern Economic Corridor will play an important role.

 

Mr. Veeris Ammarapala, Governor of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, commented, “With its BCG Economy and Thailand 4.0 visions, Thailand invites investments and initiatives, including those in the Eastern Economic Corridor, toward decarbonization and other advanced technology. We look forward to seeing this collaborative project will become a role model toward achieving these national goals.”

 

Furthermore, as the Japanese government aims to contribute to the development of low carbon infrastructure globally through its “Infrastructure System Overseas Promotion Strategy 2025” and “Green Growth Strategy Through Achieving Carbon Neutrality”, this feasibility study will be conducted with support from the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry under its “Feasibility Study On the Overseas Deployment of High-quality Energy Infrastructure” initiative, strengthening the long lasting close relationships between the two countries.

 

Commemorating the agreement, Mr. Nashida Kazuya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Thailand, said, “I am proud to say that Japan, as the largest investor in Thailand and a true friend of Thailand, deserves to play a role in supporting Thailand's carbon neutrality in the industrial sector. I have great expectation for the future of the carbon neutrality of both Japan and Thailand, the decarbonization of the industrial sector to further promote Thailand's economic growth, and the hydrogen value chain in ASEAN originating from Thailand.”

 

Speaking on behalf of the participating Japanese companies, Mr. Yamashita Noriaki, President of Toyota Motor Thailand Company Limited, commented, “As part of the long-lasting strong relationships between Thailand and Japan, we, as the participating Japanese companies, would like to use our expertise and technologies to help Thailand move toward carbon neutrality and become an important global hub of advanced technologies.”

 

 

 

Representing the participating Thai companies, Mr. Noppadol Pinsupa, Chief New Business and Infrastructure Officer of PTT Public Co., Ltd., said, “PTT recognizes the importance of the development of clean and green energy, a crucial turning point in global energy development where environmental friendliness is of a high priority. This collaboration has shown PTT’s commitment to sustainable business and society in line with the energy transition trend toward carbon neutrality, which still requires a large amount of support from different parties. We believe that our collaborative feasibility study will demonstrate the means of implementation of advanced and clean technologies in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, allowing us to accelerate on the road of low-carbon society and leading to the development of sustainable energy together.”

 

The participating entities and Arthur D. Little as coordination partner will closely work together on further details of the collaboration, to successfully and effectively implement the project and help the country move toward a sustainable society.