Construction News

100 plants mulled for solar waste in Thailand 9 April 2019 The Industry Ministry is considering setting up a plant to handle old and irreparably damaged solar cells. It would also support private companies in establishing roughly 100 plants to either repair or recycle about 90% of between 620,000 and 790,000 tonnes of solar cells whose lives will start to expire in the next three years, the ministry said on Monday. These are among the measures being considered to deal with what is expected to be huge amounts… Read more »

HM King gives royal approval to four upcountry tram and electric train projects Four tram and electric train projects have come closer to reality after they were given approval in a Royal Decree. His Majesty the King has given the royal go-ahead for projects in Chiang Mai, Pangnga, Phuket and Nakorn Ratchasima (Khorat). The orders of the king to the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand are effective immediately. Source: Thai Rath

Massive 11 hotel project, surf club and waterpark for Kata, Phuket 9 April 2019 by Bill Barnett, C9Hotelworks.com Thai developer K.W. Plaza group has unveiled plans for a large-scale mixed-use project called The Beach Plaza on 15 rai, that will have 11 three and four star hotels with a total of 1.490 rooms. The developer is already pitching the unconstructed project to global hotel interests for an imminent sale. The properties will have varying room sizes from 25 to 35 square metres and range in size from 78… Read more »

Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam cite concerns over Pak Lay dam project in Laos The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has raised concerns with Laos over the Pak Lay hydropower dam on the Mekong River. While Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam have accepted a prior agreement on the proposed 770 megawatt hydropower project in Laos’ Xayaboury Province, they have jointly released the statement calling on the Lao government to make every effort to address and mitigate potential adverse cross-border impacts of the project. Somkiat Prajamwong, Office of the National Water Resources… Read more »

  Bangkok’s Pantip Plaza gets youthful makeover Pratunam branch touts toys, food zone 5 April 2019 Asset World Retail Co, the operator of Pantip Plaza, is renovating its Pratunam branch to lure younger customers. Veerarit Somboonsub, the company’s general manager for tech life, said Asset World will invest 150 million baht in the renovation, with about 50 million already spent to transform the second floor of Pantip Plaza’s Pratunam branch into a toy destination. The remaining 100 million baht will be spent to renovate the food zone on… Read more »

Thailand’s Aranyaprathet – Cambodia’s Poi Pet rail line to reopen after 54 years 9 April 2019 (NNT) Thailand’s Ministry of Transport is set to reopen services on the Aranyaprathet – Poi Pet railway connecting Thailand’s and Cambodia’s rail networks. Thailand’s Minister of Transport, Arkhom Termpittayapaisith, led a team of ministerial executives to follow up on the construction and facilities management at Ban Khlong Luek Border Crossing Temporary Railway Station in the Aranyaprathet district of Sa Kaeo, and checked the tracks in preparation for the reopening of Aranyaprathet –… Read more »

Thailand – Cambodia railway to open this month 8 April 2019 The 1·3 km cross-border rail link between Arayaprathet in Thailand and Poipot in Cambodia which was completed last year is to be opened on April 22, Thailand’s Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith told the ASEAN PPP Summit in Bangkok on April 4. Speaking to Railway Gazette International on the sidelines of the event, the minister said an agreement on the procedures for the operation of cross-border rail services would be signed on the same day as the opening… Read more »

Gulf Energy Development’s Sarath Ratanavadi gets billion-dollar fillip after announcing Vietnam investment 8 April 2019 The fortune of Thai energy tycoon Sarath Ratnavadi jumped by a billion dollars after announcing his Vietnam investment plan. Ratnavadi’s shares in Thailand’s third largest power producer, Gulf Energy Development Pcl, surged 50 percent after announcing last August that he would invest in solar and power ventures in Vietnam. He owns about 73 percent of Gulf Energy. With a net worth of $4.8 billion, he is the third richest man in Thailand, according… Read more »

Sustainable architecture gaining in stature in Asia 8 April 2019 FROM THE USE of solar panels and energy-efficient glass to combining design with forestry, sustainable architecture is reaching new heights in Asia, according to a research by real estate agent JLL. In Thailand, the Thai Green Building Institute website shows 108 buildings applied for its certification with 36 having been certified under the silver, gold and platinum categories. The criteria for certification covers a projects’ design, construction process as well as energy sources. In line with the trend,… Read more »