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Siripong: Land Bridge Cheaper & Better Than Thai Canal

Siripong: Land Bridge Cheaper & Better Than Thai Canal

Prachachat•Politics•24d ago

Reader Briefing

Thailand's Deputy Transport Minister, Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat, advocates for the Land Bridge project, citing its lower cost and higher economic returns compared to the more expensive Thai Canal.

  • •The Land Bridge project is being promoted as a more cost-effective and profitable alternative to the Thai Canal.
  • •The project will be developed under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with the government not bearing the sole investment burden.
  • •Further studies are incorporating oil and gas pipeline systems into the Land Bridge's scope, expected to significantly reduce transit times.

Overview

  • •Deputy Minister of Transport Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat stated that the government will consider the report from the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) for the Land Bridge project's evaluation.
  • •The new study for the Land Bridge project includes oil and gas pipeline systems, which were not part of previous considerations.
  • •The Land Bridge project is estimated to cost approximately 900 billion THB, while the Thai Canal project is estimated at 2,000 billion THB.
  • •The Land Bridge project is considered more cost-effective and offers better economic returns (FIRR) compared to the Thai Canal project.
  • •Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat emphasized that the Land Bridge project is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), meaning the government will not be the sole investor.
  • •Private sector companies, both Thai and foreign, will be invited to study the details and feasibility of the Land Bridge project.
  • •The Thai Canal project is considered a last resort due to its lower cost-effectiveness and higher investment requirements.
  • •The inclusion of oil and gas pipelines in the Land Bridge project is expected to significantly reduce transportation times by enabling transport on the western side.

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Source: Prachachat (Original)

Key Quotes

Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat
"Previously, the Land Bridge project might have only mentioned the rail system, but not the oil and gas transportation pipeline system, which will significantly reduce transportation time."
ที่ผ่านมาโครงการแลนด์บริดจ์ อาจจะพูดถึงเพียงระบบรางเท่านั้น แต่ไม่ได้พูดถึงระบบท่อขนส่งน้ำมันและก๊าซ ซึ่งเรื่องนี้จะช่วยลดระยะเวลาในการขนส่งอย่างมีนัยยะสำคัญ
Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat
"The Thai Canal project uses more than double the budget of the Land Bridge project."
โครงการคลองไทย ใช้งบประมาณมากกว่าโครงการแลนด์บริดจ์ มากกว่าหนึ่งเท่าตัว
Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat
"The Land Bridge project has better economic returns (FIRR)."
โครงการแลนด์บริดจ์ มีผลตอบแทนทางเศรษฐกิจ (FIRR) ดีกว่า
Siriaphong Angkasakulkiat
"Comparing the two projects, the Land Bridge is more cost-effective, and if a choice must be made, the Thai Canal is the last option due to lower profitability."
เมื่อเปรียบเทียบกันระหว่างสองโครงการแลนด์บริดจ์ มีความคุ้มค่ามากกว่า และถ้าต้องเลือกโครงการคลองไทย ถือว่าเป็นทางเลือกสุดท้ายเพราะมีความคุ้มค่าน้อยกว่า

Key Entities

Person

Siriaphong(สิริพงศ์)
Deputy Minister of Transport who commented on the Land Bridge and Thai Canal projects.
Ekniti Nitithanprapas(เอกนิติ นิติทัณฑ์ประภาศ)
Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, chairing the committee for the Land Bridge project study.

Organization

Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP)(สำนักงานนโยบายและแผนการขนส่งและจราจร (สนข.))
Government agency responsible for producing reports and studies related to transportation and traffic policy in Thailand.