Japanese investors eye clean energy projects in Thailand’s EEC
Several companies from Japan have expressed interest in investing in clean energy projects in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), especially at Smart Park Industrial Estate in Rayong province, said Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) governor Weerit Amrapal on Thursday.
Weerit was speaking after a videoconference with representatives from Toyota Daihatsu Engineering & Manufacturing (TDEM), Toyota Motor, Toyota Tsusho M&E, Kansai Electric Power, Kansai Energy Solution, and Osaka Gas Ltd.
“Japanese investors are especially interested in establishing power plants fuelled by solar power and hydrogen at Smart Park Industrial Estate,” he said. “IEAT promised to appoint a committee dedicated to studying the possibility of establishing a carbon neutral industrial estate in Thailand. The study is expected to be complete within this year.”
The meeting also discussed other alternative and renewable energy projects in EEC to support expansion of industrial zones in the area while preserving the environment of surrounding communities.
Earlier this year, Japan declared a target to become carbon neutral (emit net-zero carbon dioxide) by 2050, following the United States and China’s vow to achieve the same goal by 2050 and 2060 respectively.
“Japan has been employing financial, taxation and stimulus policies to reduce the emission of carbon dioxide, and Thailand can benefit by following these models to reduce its own emissions and prepare for the future global energy trend,” said Weerit.
