CHINA – NUCLEAR POWER Chinese CPR-1000 nuclear reactor generates power for first time China’s first domestic CPR-1000 nuclear power plant, unit 1 of Ling Ao Phase II, was connected to the grid at 3:38 pm on 15 July 2010, becoming China’s twelfth commercial reactor to generate power.
Megabangna’s Official Launch Construction Commenced; Financial Support Obtained Megabangna has commenced construction and is now officially launching for lease to leading retailers. Development of the project is backed by a Baht 6.5 billion credit facilities package provided by a bank consortium comprising Siam Commercial Bank and KBank. Located on Bangna-Trad Km.8, Megabangna is developed by SF Development Co., Ltd., an international joint venture between Siam Future Development PLC, Ikano Pte. Ltd. and S.P.S. Global Trade. Upon completion in Q1 2012, it will be South-East Asia’s first low-level regional… Read more »
THAILAND – PROPERTY Real Estate Bubble not expected in Thailand, but caution urged for developers Although a real estate bubble is not seen as a problem in Thailand, it would take at least 11 months for condominium developers and up to three years for single houses to clear their current stocks, according to the Agency for Real Estate Affairs (AREA). The severity of the global financial crisis also saw the government introduce additional sweeteners for buyers — a 300,000-baht income tax deduction for any buyers of a new… Read more »
The airport rail link is scheduled to open for full commercial operations on Monday 23 August 2010, the State Railway of Thailand says. SRT governor Yutthana Tapcharoen yesterday said the rail operations would be divided into ordinary and express services.
Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction, the country’s third-largest contractor, expects a backlog worth about Bt34 billion by the end of the year, the highest since the company’s establishment 48 years ago. President Vallop Rungkijvorasathien yesterday said the backlog included the fourth contract of the Blue Line mass-transit project worth Bt13.38 billion, and a Royal Irrigation Department project worth Bt1.2 billion. Both contracts are expected to be signed this quarter.
New Paradise Park aims to attract high-end shoppers The Paradise Park Co, the joint venture between Siam Piwat and MBK, plans to use Paradise Park as a business model to expand its high-end shopping mall on the outskirts of Bangkok after receiving a warm response from the project’s opening on Srinakarin Road earlier this month. The company is looking for new locations for its Paradise Park brand that targets high- to middle-class suburban dwellers. Chadatip Chutrakul, vice-president of Paradise Park, said the plan for a new shopping mall… Read more »
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) expects another two years of delays to its two new gas-fired power plants because of the time needed to produce environment and health impact assessments (EIA and HIA), said governor Suthat Patmasiriwat. “These reports require about two years from the initial phase to the start of construction, so we don’t expect to be able to operate the expansion phase of Wang Noi and Chana power plants by 2014 as planned,” said Mr Suthat.
A Consortium of South Korean and Thai firms signed an agreement on Monday to build a US$900 million (S$1.2 billion) hydroelectric power plant in Laos, company officials said. The consortium involves Thai power supplier Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and two South Korean firms, SK Construction and Korea Western Power.
THAILAND – CONSTRUCTION At least 10 were injured and an unknown number of workers remain trapped inside the under-construction structure. At least two workers were killed and more than 10 injured when a building under construction inside the Burapa University campus in Chon Buri collapsed Sunday night. A still unknown number of workers were believed to still be trapped under the debris. Reports of a third worker killed could still not be confirmed.
The government has approved in principle 11 railway improvement projects worth over 87.5 billion baht. Work on the projects is expected to start this year.