Showing posts with label Joint development of oil and gas resources. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Joint development of oil and gas resources. Show all posts
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Hun Sen agrees to jointly develop Khmer maritime territories with Thailand?
Cambodian PM agrees to ease border tension, promote economic cooperation
BANGKOK, July 27 (TNA) - Thai Deputy Prime Minister Suthep Thaugsuban ended his one-day visit to Cambodia on a mission to clarify Thailand's objection to the listing of the Preah Vihear temple ruins as a World Heritage Site to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
Mr. Suthep told reporters on his arrival in Bangkok that he had met with the Cambodian prime minister and Mr. Hun Sen asked him to convey the message to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the Thai people that Cambodia will try to ease tensions along the border to create the good atmosphere to foster the bilateral economic cooperation and good relations.
The deputy prime minister said both sides agreed that the previous incidents at the border, particularly near Preah Vihear temple, would be considered the past and like a nightmare ,and now the two nations should look ahead without looking back.
"I do not want to go in to the details but both sides affirm to jointly ease the border tension," the deputy prime minister said.
In 1962 the International Court of Justice ruled that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance begins at the foot of a mountain in Thailand, and both sides claim overlapping portions of the surrounding territory.
Armed clashes between the two countries’ military forces have occurred periodically since then, near the temple, especially in a 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.
Thai prime minister Abhisit said earlier that the government would ask UNESCO's World Heritage Committee to review their last year's decision to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site when the meet in Spain, during the week just ended.
During the one day visit, Mr. Hun Sen welcomed Mr. Suthep and Thai Defence Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan at his home and the prime minister’s wife cooked lunch for the Thai guests.
Mr. Suthep said the talks were conducted in a friendly atmosphere as the two nations shared the same target -- to build a constructive bilateral relationship and strengthen economic cooperation.
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to move ahead with plans to build Stung Nam dam in Cambodia's Koh Kong province to supply electricity to Thailand's Trat and Chantaburi provinces, particularly to the Map Ta Put Industrial Estate, he said, adding that the project had been discussed by many governments but had not materialised.
The government, therefore, will re-launch the project, Mr. Suthep said.
Both sides will jointly develop the overlapping area in the Gulf of Thailand in order to share benefits from the undersea natural gas field, he said.
Mr. Suthep told reporters on his arrival in Bangkok that he had met with the Cambodian prime minister and Mr. Hun Sen asked him to convey the message to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and the Thai people that Cambodia will try to ease tensions along the border to create the good atmosphere to foster the bilateral economic cooperation and good relations.
The deputy prime minister said both sides agreed that the previous incidents at the border, particularly near Preah Vihear temple, would be considered the past and like a nightmare ,and now the two nations should look ahead without looking back.
"I do not want to go in to the details but both sides affirm to jointly ease the border tension," the deputy prime minister said.
In 1962 the International Court of Justice ruled that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia, but the most accessible entrance begins at the foot of a mountain in Thailand, and both sides claim overlapping portions of the surrounding territory.
Armed clashes between the two countries’ military forces have occurred periodically since then, near the temple, especially in a 4.6-square-kilometre disputed area.
Thai prime minister Abhisit said earlier that the government would ask UNESCO's World Heritage Committee to review their last year's decision to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site when the meet in Spain, during the week just ended.
During the one day visit, Mr. Hun Sen welcomed Mr. Suthep and Thai Defence Minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan at his home and the prime minister’s wife cooked lunch for the Thai guests.
Mr. Suthep said the talks were conducted in a friendly atmosphere as the two nations shared the same target -- to build a constructive bilateral relationship and strengthen economic cooperation.
Thailand and Cambodia agreed to move ahead with plans to build Stung Nam dam in Cambodia's Koh Kong province to supply electricity to Thailand's Trat and Chantaburi provinces, particularly to the Map Ta Put Industrial Estate, he said, adding that the project had been discussed by many governments but had not materialised.
The government, therefore, will re-launch the project, Mr. Suthep said.
Both sides will jointly develop the overlapping area in the Gulf of Thailand in order to share benefits from the undersea natural gas field, he said.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thailand and Cambodia trying to tie up oil contract
Friday 29th August, 2008
Kuala Lumpur News.Net
Kuala Lumpur News.Net
Negotiations involving claims to undersea oil and natural gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand are dragging on for Thailand and Cambodia.
The two countries had opened negotiations in 1995 in a bid to tap into potentially rich reserves; the talks leading to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2001 by the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers.
The two countries agreed in principle to join in development and share profits from a total of eight blocks of petroleum fields in an overlapping claims area, but the agreement still needs approval of the Thai House of Representatives to comply with international treaty agreements.
Committees and working groups are working to seek an agreeable solution for the whole 26,000-square-kilometre area which is under dispute.
The two countries had opened negotiations in 1995 in a bid to tap into potentially rich reserves; the talks leading to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2001 by the Thai and Cambodian prime ministers.
The two countries agreed in principle to join in development and share profits from a total of eight blocks of petroleum fields in an overlapping claims area, but the agreement still needs approval of the Thai House of Representatives to comply with international treaty agreements.
Committees and working groups are working to seek an agreeable solution for the whole 26,000-square-kilometre area which is under dispute.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Noppadon rejects claims of concession on temple [-Thaksin may benefit from the Preah Vihear negotiation]
May 16, 2008
The Nation (Thailand)
The Nation (Thailand)
The opposition yesterday grilled Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama over whether the government had made a deal with Phnom Penh on overlapping territories in order to resolve the Preah Vihear temple dispute.
Democrat Sukhumbhand Paribatra quoted Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh as saying in the Cambodia Daily that Thailand had linked negotiations on territorial waters with the disputed temple.
"What the Cambodian minister said contradicts Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who said there is no linkage between the two issues, so why does the ministry not protest to the Cambodians over the allegation?" he said.
Sukhumbhand did not indicate how the two issues were linked.
News commentators have accused the government of trading off land below the temple for an oil and gas concession for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"There is a huge interest in the overlapping area. The Foreign Ministry should handle the case with care, and not allow any private investors to get involved," said Sukhumbhand, a former deputy foreign minister. Noppadon said nobody in his government could exchange the Preah Vihear land for an oil and gas concession in the overlapping maritime area.
Preah Vihear came before the International Court of Justice in 1962. It ruled the temple belonged to Cambodia. The dispute was rekindled last year when Phnom Penh sought listing for the Hindu temple as a world heritage. Thailand opposed the proposal as Cambodia had annexed the surrounding land over which Thailand claims sovereignty.
"Negotiations are still going on and the two sides should be able to reach common ground within two weeks," Noppadon said.
Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, who is in charge of the matter, will dispatch experts to wrap up the issue with Thai officials next week. Preah Vihear and the maritime boundary are completely separate issues and could not be linked, Noppadon said.
Democrat Sukhumbhand Paribatra quoted Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh as saying in the Cambodia Daily that Thailand had linked negotiations on territorial waters with the disputed temple.
"What the Cambodian minister said contradicts Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej, who said there is no linkage between the two issues, so why does the ministry not protest to the Cambodians over the allegation?" he said.
Sukhumbhand did not indicate how the two issues were linked.
News commentators have accused the government of trading off land below the temple for an oil and gas concession for former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.
"There is a huge interest in the overlapping area. The Foreign Ministry should handle the case with care, and not allow any private investors to get involved," said Sukhumbhand, a former deputy foreign minister. Noppadon said nobody in his government could exchange the Preah Vihear land for an oil and gas concession in the overlapping maritime area.
Preah Vihear came before the International Court of Justice in 1962. It ruled the temple belonged to Cambodia. The dispute was rekindled last year when Phnom Penh sought listing for the Hindu temple as a world heritage. Thailand opposed the proposal as Cambodia had annexed the surrounding land over which Thailand claims sovereignty.
"Negotiations are still going on and the two sides should be able to reach common ground within two weeks," Noppadon said.
Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, who is in charge of the matter, will dispatch experts to wrap up the issue with Thai officials next week. Preah Vihear and the maritime boundary are completely separate issues and could not be linked, Noppadon said.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Preah Vihear issue unsettled 'cause Thailand reneges on its promise again!
.jpg)
Preah Vihear issue unsettled
Tuesday May 13, 2008
THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL
Bangkok Post
"The Siamese never drop their rules (tricks)..." - Part of an old Khmer proverb
"សៀមមិនចោលក្បួន..."
Thailand may ask Unesco to again postpone its decision on the registration of the ancient ruins at Preah Vihear as a World Heritage site this year if it is unable to convince Cambodia to settle the land dispute through joint management, Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama said yesterday.
Cambodia had ignored the joint management proposal for the overlapping area around the ancient ruins, which covers 4.6 square kilometres, and had lobbied hard for the registration of Preah Vihear, which will be considered at a Unesco meeting in Quebec in July.
However, Mr Noppadon told a radio programme yesterday morning that he hoped Cambodia would consider the Thai proposal or Bangkok will ask for a postponement. Last year Unesco delayed making a decision, pending agreement between the two sides.
Mr Noppadon said the Preah Vihear issue was sensitive as the registration is to take place at the same time as the general election in Cambodia.
The minister said it was necessary for both countries to negotiate through diplomatic channels, and added that he planned to raise the issue with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen tomorrow when he meets him in Hong Kong.
Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh criticised the move by Thailand to link the Preah Vihear issue to the overlapping areas for offshore oil exploration.
''If we solve the Preah Vihear case, then we also solve the overlapping zone offshore. They're completely different things, the minister told the Cambodia Daily newspaper.
Cambodia had ignored the joint management proposal for the overlapping area around the ancient ruins, which covers 4.6 square kilometres, and had lobbied hard for the registration of Preah Vihear, which will be considered at a Unesco meeting in Quebec in July.
However, Mr Noppadon told a radio programme yesterday morning that he hoped Cambodia would consider the Thai proposal or Bangkok will ask for a postponement. Last year Unesco delayed making a decision, pending agreement between the two sides.
Mr Noppadon said the Preah Vihear issue was sensitive as the registration is to take place at the same time as the general election in Cambodia.
The minister said it was necessary for both countries to negotiate through diplomatic channels, and added that he planned to raise the issue with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen tomorrow when he meets him in Hong Kong.
Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh criticised the move by Thailand to link the Preah Vihear issue to the overlapping areas for offshore oil exploration.
''If we solve the Preah Vihear case, then we also solve the overlapping zone offshore. They're completely different things, the minister told the Cambodia Daily newspaper.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Thai FM denies compromising national interests for Cambodian energy
BANGKOK, May 11 (TNA) - Thai Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama Sunday denied press reports that the government has made concessions to Cambodia over contested areas claimed by both countries in exchange for oil and natural gas from the Thai-Cambodian Joint Development Area.
"Thailand would never give even an inch of its territory to Cambodia and no one in the government thought about doing it," Mr. Noppadon said.
Admitting that the overlapping claims to the areas surrounding the Preah Vihear temple of Cambodia is a very sensitive issue while negotiations with Cambodian officials are not yet finalised, Mr. Noppadon said.
Cambodia is going to hold an election in July while a committee considering a Cambodian government request to register the temple ancient ruins as a UNESCO World Heritage site would be held the same month.
Cambodia has asked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) named the Preah Vihear temple to its World Heritage list. Thailand did not oppose the idea, but arguing that the dispute over 4.6 sq km area adjoining the temple ruins has yet to be settled.
Historically, Thailand and Cambodia have laid claim to the temple, astride the border in Kantharalak district of Thailand's Si Sa Ket but can be easily accessed only through Thailand.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.
"Currently, areas mutually claimed by Thailand and Cambodia are not yet settled total 26,000 square kilometres. It's necessary for the two countries to settle the disputed areas first because they contain oil and natural gas worth about Bt5 trillion," Mr. Noppadon said.
The disputed areas should be jointly managed by governments of the two countries, he said, adding that he would discuss the issue with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An as soon as possible.
"The country's interests must come first. A joint statement will be issued by the two governments regarding the overlapping areas. Only a few minor wordings are left for the settlement," Mr. Noppadon added.
"Thailand would never give even an inch of its territory to Cambodia and no one in the government thought about doing it," Mr. Noppadon said.
Admitting that the overlapping claims to the areas surrounding the Preah Vihear temple of Cambodia is a very sensitive issue while negotiations with Cambodian officials are not yet finalised, Mr. Noppadon said.
Cambodia is going to hold an election in July while a committee considering a Cambodian government request to register the temple ancient ruins as a UNESCO World Heritage site would be held the same month.
Cambodia has asked the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) named the Preah Vihear temple to its World Heritage list. Thailand did not oppose the idea, but arguing that the dispute over 4.6 sq km area adjoining the temple ruins has yet to be settled.
Historically, Thailand and Cambodia have laid claim to the temple, astride the border in Kantharalak district of Thailand's Si Sa Ket but can be easily accessed only through Thailand.
The World Court ruled in 1962 that the temple belonged to Cambodia.
"Currently, areas mutually claimed by Thailand and Cambodia are not yet settled total 26,000 square kilometres. It's necessary for the two countries to settle the disputed areas first because they contain oil and natural gas worth about Bt5 trillion," Mr. Noppadon said.
The disputed areas should be jointly managed by governments of the two countries, he said, adding that he would discuss the issue with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An as soon as possible.
"The country's interests must come first. A joint statement will be issued by the two governments regarding the overlapping areas. Only a few minor wordings are left for the settlement," Mr. Noppadon added.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Thailand, Cambodia reopen talks on disputed waters
By an Oil and Gas Journal (OGJ) correspondent
BANGKOK, Apr. 8 -- Thailand and Cambodia plan to resume negotiations Apr. 21 in Bangkok over long-standing differences covering ownership of gas reserves in disputed waters.
An impasse has prevented development of 26,000 sq km area in the Gulf of Thailand. The area is believed to hold substantial hydrocarbon deposits.
Negotiations are being prompted by skyrocketing oil prices and the need of both Thailand and Cambodia to find indigenous energy supplies.
In 2001, both sides agreed to adopt the Joint Development Area (JDA), a scheme embraced earlier by Thailand and Malaysia, for developing oil and gas in the disputed zone without resolving exact maritime boundaries.
The original model negotiated by Thailand and Cambodia called for a 50-50 split of resources arising from the middle portion of the JDA, with sharing ratios differing on areas flanking the plot, depending on the proximity to their territorial claims.
However, Phnom Penh authorities are pressing for a 60-40 sharing ratio, unlike the 50-50 split adopted by Thailand and Malaysia on the 7,250-sq-km triangular JDA (OGJ Online, Aug. 15, 2006).
Songpop Polachan, deputy director-general of Thailand's Department of Mineral Fuels, said Thailand will insist that the Malaysia-Thailand JDA sharing model is adopted for the Thailand-Cambodia pact.
An impasse has prevented development of 26,000 sq km area in the Gulf of Thailand. The area is believed to hold substantial hydrocarbon deposits.
Negotiations are being prompted by skyrocketing oil prices and the need of both Thailand and Cambodia to find indigenous energy supplies.
In 2001, both sides agreed to adopt the Joint Development Area (JDA), a scheme embraced earlier by Thailand and Malaysia, for developing oil and gas in the disputed zone without resolving exact maritime boundaries.
The original model negotiated by Thailand and Cambodia called for a 50-50 split of resources arising from the middle portion of the JDA, with sharing ratios differing on areas flanking the plot, depending on the proximity to their territorial claims.
However, Phnom Penh authorities are pressing for a 60-40 sharing ratio, unlike the 50-50 split adopted by Thailand and Malaysia on the 7,250-sq-km triangular JDA (OGJ Online, Aug. 15, 2006).
Songpop Polachan, deputy director-general of Thailand's Department of Mineral Fuels, said Thailand will insist that the Malaysia-Thailand JDA sharing model is adopted for the Thailand-Cambodia pact.
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Cambodia Confirms To Resume Oil, Gas Talks With Thailand
Nov 7, 2007
PHNOM PENH -(Dow Jones)- Cambodia is willing to resume long-delayed talks with Thailand over joint development of oil and gas resources in disputed waters, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said Thursday.
"We are also happy to resume the talks. We expect for the new talks, we will get a good result," Sok An told reporters at an investment conference in Phnom Penh.
His comments come after Thailand's Mineral Fuels department earlier this month said talks with Cambodia are likely to resume early next year.
Cambodia and Thailand have long been at odds over exploration and development in areas of the Gulf of Thailand that they both claim. A deal appeared imminent in 1997, but plans were scrapped because of the Asian economic crisis.
Sok An, a powerful figure in Cambodia who also heads the government's council of ministers, or Cabinet, said Cambodia can't afford to not extract its petroleum resources.
"We can't let the resources stay under the sea. We need all these resources for the development of the country," he said.
Both countries believe the disputed exploration areas could contain abundant gas and oil reserves, as they are located close to productive fields.
-By Stephen Wright, Dow Jones Newswires; 66 89 926 5022; stephen.wright@ dowjones.com
"We are also happy to resume the talks. We expect for the new talks, we will get a good result," Sok An told reporters at an investment conference in Phnom Penh.
His comments come after Thailand's Mineral Fuels department earlier this month said talks with Cambodia are likely to resume early next year.
Cambodia and Thailand have long been at odds over exploration and development in areas of the Gulf of Thailand that they both claim. A deal appeared imminent in 1997, but plans were scrapped because of the Asian economic crisis.
Sok An, a powerful figure in Cambodia who also heads the government's council of ministers, or Cabinet, said Cambodia can't afford to not extract its petroleum resources.
"We can't let the resources stay under the sea. We need all these resources for the development of the country," he said.
Both countries believe the disputed exploration areas could contain abundant gas and oil reserves, as they are located close to productive fields.
-By Stephen Wright, Dow Jones Newswires; 66 89 926 5022; stephen.wright@ dowjones.com
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
