Business
Thailand’s biggest coal miner Banpu acquires fifth US shale gas asset for $210m
Thailand’s biggest coal miner and exporter Banpu Pcl is acquiring a US shale gas portfolio worth $210 million, its fifth such overseas investment play

Thailand’s biggest coal miner and exporter Banpu Pcl is acquiring a US shale gas portfolio worth $210 million, its fifth such overseas investment play.
Banpu signed a purchase and sale agreement to acquire an operatorship position and gas portfolio in the Northeast Marcellus shale gas play of Pennsylvania.
This agreement represents Banpu’s fifth investment in the US shale gas business in line with its expansion strategy to acquire interests in cash-generating assets, according to its filing to the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Monday.
Banpu’s chief executive Somruedee Chaimongkol said, this acquisition provides Banpu nearly 80 per cent of working interest in 112 wells with the net production interest of 100 million cubic feet per day.
The shale gas resource has proven reserves of 414 billion cubic feet over 32,350 acres, which will bolster Banpu’s position as a major player in the Marcellus shale area.
Previously, Banpu acquired a 29.4-per-cent stake in the Chaffee Corners Joint Exploration Agreement (JEA) in April last year. Its net interest in the Chaffee Corners JEA is equivalent to proven reserves of 156 billion cubic feet of dry natural gas.
The CEO told local media that its gas sale volumes was around 21 million cubic feet per day last year and most of them served the US domestic demand.
Banpu is aggressively diversifying its business into upstream and clean energy businesses. Last month, it announced the investment of S$75 million ($55.6 million) in Singaporean photovoltaic (PV) firm Sunreap, backed by Goldman Sachs. It targets to build 300 MW of PV capacity over the next five years.
Coal miner Banpu takes stake in Singapore green energy firm
Earlier in September this year, Thai coal miner Banpu PCL bought a 25.7% stake in Singaporean green energy firm, Sunseap Group Pte Ltd for $55.7 million.
Banpu is making the investment through its subsidiary, Banpu Infinergy Company Limited (BPIN). The purchase of the stake will increase BPIN’s generating capacity to 47 megawatts (MW) of signed projects, a step toward its five-year goal of 300 MW, according to the statement.
Sunseap has an operating capacity of 93.3 MW of solar power that is set to increase to approximately 182.9 MW through secured projects.
Banpu is “responding to business needs and encouraging the switch to clean energy in Thailand”, said Somruedee Chaimongkol, the company’s chief executive in the statement.
Sunseap’s customers in Singapore include public sector agencies and companies such as Apple, the Housing Development Board, and Jurong Port.
DEALSTREETASIA Pte. Ltd. is a news and intelligence platform providing reports on investments, mergers, acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, investment banking and the business of startups across the Asian region.
Business
Online intellectual property dispute platform to go live next year
The online dispute settlement platform for intellectual property cases will assist with cases related to copyright, patents, and trademark infringements using digital technology.
Business
Thailand pushes for “Ease of Doing Business” reforms
Thailand is in the process of responding to the World Bank’s advice and the “Ten for Ten” proposal by five ambassadors to Thailand, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy Supattanapong Punmeechaow.

The government has made improving the business environment in Thailand a key policy by setting a goal to raise the ranking of the ease of doing business to be among the top 20 countries in the world.
(more…)Business
Thailand remains in pole position for the highest funds raised across Southeast Asia
Taking the top two spots on the region’s leaderboard this year are Thailand’s Central Retail Corporation Public Company Limited and SCG Packaging Public Company Limited with US$1.77 billion and US$ 1.27 billion funds raised respectively

THAILAND, 26 November 2020 — Capital markets across Southeast Asia stayed resilient in 2020 despite a host of uncertainties from the evolving global health crisis to the worsening US-China trade tensions and the impact of the US presidential elections.
(more…)-
Economics1 week ago
Thailand Tops Bloomberg’s Emerging Markets List
-
Economics5 days ago
96% of Foreign Investors still confident in Thailand says BOI
-
Investment6 days ago
Thailand BOI new measures to boost post-Covid-19 investment
-
Companies6 days ago
Thai Firm to produce 200 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine