Saturday, January 30, 2010

PTT Chemical and GE sign gas turbine service agreement

PTT Chemical Public Company Limited, Thailand’s largest chemical producer and a regional leader in the petrochemical industry, has signed a service agreement with GE (NYSE: GE) in Singapore to ensure the long-term reliability of nine GE gas turbines at PTT Chemical’s site in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, Rayong Province, Thailand.


The 13-year Contractual Service Agreement (CSA) worth US$46.1 million or approximately Baht 1,521 million covers the supply of parts, repairs and field services for planned and unplanned outages for gas turbine-generators and accessory equipment, along with performance guarantees.

Veerasak Kositpaisal, President and CEO of PTT Chemical said, “Through this agreement, GE guarantees the continuing reliability and efficiency of the gas turbines, which improves our efficiency and security as well as enables us to maintain our petrochemical production schedule. The CSA also helps us to effectively manage our maintenance budget over the life of the agreement.”

“While we have received equipment orders from PTT Chemical in the past, this marks our first CSA with the company,” said Kovit Kantapasara., GE Energy Country Executive for Thailand and Indochina. “We hope to build on this agreement to provide similar services to other companies in the PTT Group.” Overall, GE has supplied more than 20 gas turbines to the petrochemical business of the PTT Group.

PTT Chemical is a diversified and integrated chemical producer offering a wide variety of petrochemical and chemical products. Its product portfolio includes ethylene and propylene, collectively called olefins, downstream derivatives such as Polymers and Ethylene Oxide and Ethylene Glycol, and oleochemicals. The company’s gas-based plants have a total annual capacity of 2,888,000 tons of olefins, making it Thailand’s largest olefins producer and the second largest in all of Asia.

GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that's built to meet essential world needs. GE Energy is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies providing integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

Stimulus for Thailand’s hospitality industry

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Promotion (OSMEP), Impact Exhibition Management and Thailand Restaurant News magazine are inviting local and international players in the hospitality business, and entrepreneurs interested in this sector, to Thailand International Restaurant and Bar 2010 at Impact Muang Thong Thani in June 2010.


This international expo is designed to raise the standard of Thailand’s hospitality industry and giving encouragement and support to new entrepreneurs now that the economy is recovering.

Yuthasak Supasorn, OSMEP’s Director-General pointed out that the restaurant and service industry was one of Thailand’s vital sectors, with a value of two hundred thousand million baht each year, and that new business ventures were continually opening.

“As the economy continues to improve, everyone involved in this sector needs to be ready to take advantage of emerging opportunities,” he said.

“However, sustainable success in this business depends on many factors, such as location, financial support, market insight, product and service quality, customer base and network of business alliances. The Thailand International Restaurant and Bar 2010 has been organised to give players in this sector, whether they’re actual or potential, the support they need to go for that success.”

Pornphan Bulner, Assistant Director Exhibition Project of Impact Exhibition Management, explained that the expo would integrate products, services and technologies relating to restaurants, hotels, bars, coffee shops and catering to meet the needs of entrepreneurs.

“It will showcase raw materials, equipment and machinery, as well as new techniques and skill trainings for all roles in the hospitality industry. At the same time it will provide a platform for negotiation, networking and exchanging information,” she said.

“At least 150 local and international companies will exhibit their products and services on a combined space of 10,000 square meters. We’re expecting to receive more than 10,000 Thai and foreign visitors -- owners, managers, suppliers and business consultants, as well as people who are interested in running their own business.”

Thailand International Restaurant and Bar 2010 will be arranged in three zones: Cuisine for Change, World of Wine & Spirits, and Coffee (Tea & Bakery) Culture. It will also include seminars, demonstrations of recipes and cooking techniques, competitions for chefs, sommeliers and bartenders and an Asian barista championship.

Chatthaporn Yolao, Managing Director of Thailand Restaurant News magazine, said that the event would present new food trends and the latest technologies as business opportunities, and marketing information from experts. Thai SME’s would also benefit from the new relationships they make with other entrepreneurs and service providers.

“We are hoping that Thailand International Restaurant and Bar 2010 will be instrumental in raising the standard of the food and beverage and hospitality industries in Thailand, and in doing so benefit the Thai economy,” she said.