THAILAND

New Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon is non-committal on energy price restructuring, a plan that is widely believed to have gotten his predecessor Pichai Naripthaphan into hot water amid the recent cabinet reshuffle.

"I have to look at the details and discuss the matter with energy policymakers," said Mr Arak, a former chief executive of satellite operator Thaicom, founded by fugitive ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Energy price restructuring was planned by the former energy minister, with compressed natural gas in the transport sector increasinging by 50 satang a kilogramme from 8.50 baht and LPG seeing an increase of 75 satang per kg.

The plan also included an increase in the levy collection for petrol and diesel resuming last Monday by one baht per litre for premium and regular petrol and 60 satang a litre for diesel.

The excise tax on diesel was also scheduled to resume collection after it was cut by the previous government from 5.31 baht a litre to half a satang, with the municipal tax of 53.1 satang waived to serve its policy of keeping the price below 30 baht a litre.

Mr Pichai also revised the power development plan to aim for renewable energy making up 25% of the country's consumption by 2020, up from a previous target of 20%.

Mr Arak added he has not decided when he will move to the Ministry of Energy's headquarters at the Energy Complex on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.

He insisted he is not working for any particular interests.

"I have not met Mr Thaksin since he was ousted," said Mr Arak, adding he will do his best.

He is a close friend of Boonklee Plangsiri, the group chairman of Shin Corporation.

They both graduated from Chulalongkorn University's engineering faculty.