In the bustling world of global business, where the stakes are higher and the competition fiercer, emerges a beacon of leadership—Mr. Bandhit, CEO of Thaioil Plc. This year, Mr. Bandhit has been honored with the illustrious title of CEO of the Year, a distinction that resonates deeply within the corridors of power, not just in Thailand but on a global scale. His acumen is being tested in the shadow of a towering challenge: the $5.37 billion Clean Fuel Project (CFP), which is currently stalled due to a complex web of disputes and delays involving its main contractors. Thaioil Plc, steadfast in its vision to soar among the elite echelons of the world’s top refineries, is now poised to leverage its rights under a parent guarantee agreement. This assertive measure is being contemplated as negotiations with the central contractor coalition, known as UJV, tread water, showing few signs of resolution. This…
Posts published in “Thailand”
Chaiwat Kovavisarach, the dynamic Group Chief Executive Officer and President of Bangchak Corporation Plc, recently took the stage at the 14th Greenovative Forum, delivering an inspirational keynote titled “AI, Energy, and the Environment” to celebrate 40 illustrious years of Bangchak at True Digital Park West in the vibrant city of Bangkok on November 29. As celebrations go, this one was infused with insights and foresight, painting a picture of Thailand’s promising future. Letting your imagination fly, picture Thailand establishing itself as the digital economic powerhouse of Southeast Asia, a majestic goal that is very much on the state’s agenda. This grand vision is driven by the burgeoning growth of homegrown data centers and cloud service enterprises, which are indispensable in nurturing artificial intelligence (AI) advancements. But as we all know, even dreams come with a cost—albeit not in fairy tales. The stark reality is that these pioneering facilities require a…
In recent stirring events that have set the seas abuzz, Thai navy patrol vessels made a resolute return to the docks of Ranong, following a daring rescue mission. With a tale befitting a high seas adventure, the crew of beleaguered Thai trawlers found salvation from the midst of chaos after coming under attack by three assertive Myanmar vessels. This dramatic maritime altercation tragically resulted in one fatality and two injuries, the latter whisked away for urgent care to a local hospital. The Thai government, in reaction to this sobering incident, has promptly lodged an official complaint with their counterparts in Myanmar. Provoked by the assault on their fleet off the Ranong coast, where one fishing boat and its crew vanished into Myanmar’s custody, the Thai authorities are now calling for action. Among those captured were four Thai citizens, whose safe return is now a top governmental priority. Prime Minister Paetongtarn…
Brace yourselves, residents of Greater Bangkok! The approaching week promises to be a hazy affair, as the Pollution Control Department issues a heads-up on the impending smog conditions that could blanket the city from Monday through Friday. The primary culprits behind this daunting digital-weather prediction are the smoke emissions from agricultural farmlands, coupled with a rather lazy atmospheric situation looming over the bustling capital and its neighboring provinces. According to the vigilant eyes at the department, the smoke spectacle got a head start on Saturday when no less than 184 hotspots flared up across Thailand. The majority of these smoke signals, approximately 140, originated from farmland fires. What’s an innocent bonfire to one farmer is a full-blown atmospheric assault when nudged by the northeasterly winds, which, mind you, are making a beeline for the southwest, casting its smoky spell over Bangkok. It’s not just the agricultural pyrotechnics that are in…
Picture this: the bustling hubbub of Suvarnabhumi Airport, where travelers scurry about with suitcases in tow, and amidst this hive of activity, officers from Immigration swoop in with steely resolve. Their mission? To capture a fugitive who wasn’t exactly planning on a vacation to Cambodia, regardless of the mischief he stirred back home. Meet Chen Shuai, a 30-year-old who found himself on the wrong side of the law—and on the radar of Interpol. It was a Sunday like no other for Chen. With a ticket in hand and a destination on the horizon, he’d perhaps envisioned a seamless getaway. Instead, the day’s itinerary took a sharp detour, courtesy of the ever-vigilant Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, commander of Immigration Division 2. As Officer Choengron approached with calm but unmistakable authority, the otherwise uneventful airport checkpoint turned into a stage for high drama. Mr. Chen was no ordinary traveler. His infamous…
Rescuers carefully loaded the body of Kamilla Beliatskaia into their vehicle, somberly transporting the Russian tourist to Koh Samui Hospital for an autopsy. The tragic scene unfolded on Chaweng Beach, where the unforgiving waves had claimed yet another life. Koh Samui, usually the epitome of an island paradise with its sun-kissed shores and vibrant nightlife, was shrouded in a cloak of sorrow as the details of Kamilla’s untimely demise surfaced. Nestled within the tropical embrace of Surat Thani province, Koh Samui is typically a magnet for those in search of idyllic getaways. However, for Kamilla, this escape ended in heart-wrenching tragedy. It was on a seemingly ordinary Friday when the ocean’s unpredictable temperament turned treacherous. Kamilla and a companion had ventured to the picturesque Lad Koh viewpoint, a site known for its breathtaking vistas, only to find themselves in peril when they slipped off the rocks into the turbulent sea.…
In an intriguing turn of events, a seemingly epic tale stretching back nearly half a century unraveled at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday. Picture this: a discreet immigration police officer weaving through the hustle and bustle of travelers, his eyes firmly set on his target – Chen Shuai, a Chinese national with an evanescent past that was about to catch up with him. Chen Shuai, at the tender age of 30, was living under a shadow cast by practices from yesteryears. As he attempted to slip away to neighboring Cambodia, time stood still. An alert rang through the airport, cutting through the mundane chatter and echoing the legacy of alleged crimes tied to the glamorous yet enigmatic world of luxury used automobiles. The year was 2024, and Chen was thrust back into the limelight by his association with automotive dealings that dated back to—wait for it—1979 and 1980. The sum of…
In a dramatic turn of events on the unpredictable waters off the coast of Thailand, a routine fishing expedition transformed into a perilous encounter at sea. There we find Thai navy patrol vessels, now safely docked at Ranong, having played a crucial role in rescuing a beleaguered crew. The fleet found itself in the crossfire when three aggressive Myanmar vessels launched an unexpected assault. The skirmish tragically claimed one life and left two others nursing injuries, now receiving care at a local hospital. This harrowing tale was confirmed by an image courtesy of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center Region 3, vividly illustrating the intensity of the situation. Now, as tensions simmer, all eyes are on the ongoing negotiations. Four Thai crew members remain detained with their fishing boat, towed provocatively into Myanmar waters. The Defense Ministry’s spokesperson, Maj Gen Thanathip Sawangsaeng, expressed that Thai officials, under the directive of…
Amidst the tranquil greenery of the southern Thai province of Songkhla, an unusual chaos reigned as Hat Yai, the vibrant heart of the region, faced a watery ordeal earlier this week. Residents of this bustling economic hub, renowned for its cultural charm and as a welcoming gateway for Malaysian tourists, found themselves caught in an unsettling dance with Mother Nature, prompted by relentless torrential rains. Efforts to restore the city’s normal pace began with determination as municipality workers rolled up their sleeves to tackle the aftermath. Streets were littered with debris, remnants of the stubborn floodwaters that had halted life as usual. Canals, once picturesque waterways, now became menacing torrents, disrupting not just the roads but lives and livelihoods. Yet, amidst this struggle, there was a profound sense of community resilience. By Sunday, residents emerged, armed with brooms and buckets, ready to reclaim their neighborhoods. A poignant scene unfolded in…
On a seemingly serene Sunday morning in the beautiful yet occasionally tumultuous region of Betong, nestled within the southern reaches of Thailand’s Yala province, Mother Nature decided to make her presence known in quite a dramatic fashion. As the clock ticked towards 7 AM, after what seemed like an endless parade of rainclouds, the ground beneath the Betong municipal office gave way, resulting in a formidable landslide that disrupted the tranquility of the early hours. In the blink of an eye, the municipal car park, usually a place of brief farewells and happy reunions, transformed into a scene reminiscent of a dramatic film set. The sturdy concrete slabs were no match for the relentless forces of nature, splitting and crumbling like a cookie underfoot. The municipal office’s fleet of seven vehicles, which were accustomed to mere sun and rain, faced an unlikely adversary. These faithful steeds of steel, now clinging…