Energy partnership between Thailand, Cambodia back on the table
Phnom Penh is optimistic that talks with Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s government and historic ties with Thaksin will result in a deal beneficial to both sides
Cambodia has said it is willing to renew negotiations with Thailand for the joint exploration and development of an offshore oil and gas field in the Gulf of Thailand.
The area targeted is believed to hold at least US$300 billion worth of reserves.
Pen Bona, the Cambodian government spokesperson, told Bloomberg News that his country remains committed to discussing the issue with the Pheu Thai-led governemtn.
“If the new government of Thailand is ready, we are happy to continue the negotiations,” he told Bloomberg.
The two neighbouring countries have been squabbling over the overlapping claims area (OCA) of 27,000 square kilometres in the Gulf of Thailand since the 1970s.
However, earlier this year, both Thailand and Cambodia agreed to discuss the options of exploring and sharing benefits from the OCA, which is estimated to contain about 10 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 300 million barrels of crude oil.
Negotiations have been stalled since 2001 when the two countries insisted that territorial claims must be discussed at the same time as joint resource development.
Observers, however, said the chance has risen for the two governments to reach an agreement to jointly exploit the gas field without touching the thorny issue of territorial games. They also said it’s a good time to do this because former PM Thaksin Shinawatra’s daughter, Paetongtongtarn, is in charge.
They noted that Thaksin has very good ties with Hun Sen, the patriarch of the Cambodian government and father of incumbent PM Hun Manet.
With Paetongtarn and Hun Manet leading their respective countries, the joint development of the OCA is likely to be achieved, the observers said.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira had indicated at the government policy debate in August that the issue of territorial claims could be put aside for now and talks could focus on the joint development of the OCA.
“We don’t need to resolve different opinions on boundaries, we just to have neighbourly chats and try to make use of the resources. That will boost security as well as cut utility bills,” he said.
Pichai, who also doubles as deputy PM, had said that the Thai government was in the process of negotiating the joint development of the OCA with Cambodia.
On September 24, the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) advised the government to quickly hold talks with Cambodia on the OCA, adding that the talks could use the model of the successful JDA (Joint Development Area) negotiation between Thailand and Malaysia. They added that Thailand had sufficient investment funds to facilitate various forms of operations in the OCA.
The negotiation must focus on securing long-term energy stability for the mutual benefit of both countries, NESDC secretary-general Danucha Pichayanan said.
In 1979, Thailand agreed with Malaysia on common boundaries in the lower Gulf of Thailand and marked a relatively small area of 7,250 square kilomeres for an ongoing joint development project.
