In brief: natural gas production in Thailand

Regulation of natural gas production

Ownership and organisation

What is the ownership and organisational structure for production of natural gas (other than LNG)? How does the government derive value from natural gas production?

Under the PA, petroleum belongs to the state. No person may explore for or produce petroleum in any area, whether owned by that person or other, except by virtue of a concession and (since 2017) a production sharing contract (PSC) or service contract (SC).

However, a concessionaire owns the petroleum it produces with the right to sell and dispose of such petroleum. All natural gas produced must be sold to PTT Public Company Limited for domestic distribution and use.

A concessionaire or contractor under a PSC or SC must be a company. However, it may be 100 per cent foreign-owned.

Gas separation, distribution and trading are subject to ceilings on foreign ownership…