Author: Peter Carlisle

Thailand’s Minimum wage hits construction prices Higher wages drive up labour costs The new daily minimum wage, which became effective in early January, drove up home construction prices in the first quarter, despite a drop in costs due to the influx of Chinese steel and the delayed disbursement of the government’s budget. Vichai Viratkapan, acting […]

E-bidding for 2nd phase of Thai-Chinese high-speed railway to be held next year The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) will next year launch electronic bidding for 13 contacts of the second phase of the 341-billion-baht Thai-Chinese high-speed railway project. SRT governor Nirut Maneepan said on Monday that the agency’s board of directors had approved the […]

Airport flops in Thailand prove dreamers wrong Bringing an airport to a province isn’t always a boon. It can be a burden too. Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin’s policy to make Thailand a regional aviation hub has become an impetus for provinces without an airport or that have one that they don’t like to push for […]

Thai PM updated on progress of second phase of Phuket International Airport The Prime Minister stated that the government is striving to elevate both Phuket and Samui to international island status, aiming to bring prosperity to the region without causing inconvenience to the people. Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin conducted an on-site inspection to monitor […]

Thai PM reviews plans to fix Phuket traffic Srettha stresses importance of improving infrastructure, proposes seaplane base to serve island-hoppers Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin met local authorities in Phuket on Friday to follow up on construction plans aimed at alleviating traffic congestion in the island province. The meeting at Phuket International Airport focused on solutions […]

Phuket’s Kathu-Patong tunnel project to be expedited Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has instructed related agencies to expedite the Kathu-Patong tunnel project. Srettha said this project used to cost around 8 billion baht to build during the Yingluck administration but the cost would nearly double that now. The 1.85-kilometer tunnel is part of the Kathu-Patong Expressway […]

Final Thai-Chinese high-speed rail contracts to be signed soon Progress expected on long-delayed first phase from Bangkok to Nakhon Ratchasima The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) expects the last two construction contracts for the first phase of the Thai-Chinese high-speed railway to be signed soon, according to Deputy Transport Minister Surapong Piyachote. The 179.4-billion-baht project […]

Bangkok Port saga never ends Governments have tried to move Bangkok Port in Klong Toey to Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri province many times Bangkok Post Editorial Governments have tried to move Bangkok Port in Klong Toey to Laem Chabang deep-sea port in Chon Buri province many times. The relocation follows an urban […]

Why solar and wind are not winning By Bjorn Lomborg Despite us constantly being told that solar and wind are now the cheapest forms of electricity, governments around the world needed to spend US$1.8 trillion (66.3 trillion baht) on the green transition last year. “Wind and solar are already significantly cheaper than coal and oil” […]