According to Sarawut Kaewtathip, the director general of Thailand’s Mineral Fuels Department, a total of 1.6bn baht (U$45.5m) has been pledged by the Japanese Government to enable the department to conduct a study on how to capture and store carbon emissions in Thailand.

The funding – provided by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry – will be used by the Mineral Fuels Department to research how to capture carbon emissions in six geosynclines in the Gulf of Thailand, in addition to two geosynclines in the North of the country.

The first announcement of the funding was made by Sarawut at a subcommittee on technologies for carbon emissions reduction at the end of June 2023. It was here that Sarawut also mentioned that the subcommittee was working with other government agencies to study technology for carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) to reduce carbon emissions.

The 1.6bn baht will be provided through a Memorandum of Understanding – signed by Nishimura Yasutoshi, Japan’s minister for economy, trade and industry – which will see the country partnering with Thailand to conduct the CCUS study.

A total of 1bn baht (U$28.4m) will be used to fund the study of the Sakhon, Pak Nam, Hua Hin, Rayong, Kra and Western Kra geosynclines in the Gulf of Thailand, with a scheduled completion date set for 2027.

The Mineral Fuels Department will also study the Lampang and Mae Moh geosynclines in Thailand’s Lampang province. A total of 600m baht (U$17m) will be provided for the study ahead of a completion date in 2028.