The Business Times
business-time-50
Asean Business logo
SPONSORED BYUOB logo
NEWS ANALYSIS

Thailand’s energy shock may force long-delayed reforms 

A prolonged Middle East conflict could weigh on country’s growth by driving up costs in an economy heavily reliant on imported gas

Summarise
google-preferred-sourceAdd BT as a preferred source
阅读简体中文版 (beta)
    • Investors – both domestic and foreign – have long complained that outdated rules and slow-moving legislation are holding back investment in sectors that Thailand hopes will drive future growth.
    • Investors – both domestic and foreign – have long complained that outdated rules and slow-moving legislation are holding back investment in sectors that Thailand hopes will drive future growth. PHOTO: EPA

    Peter Janssen

    Published Fri, Mar 6, 2026 · 12:58 PM

    [BANGKOK] Rising oil and gas prices from the Middle East conflict are set to weigh on Thailand’s export and tourism-dependent economy, while also sharpening pressure on the next government to push through long-delayed structural reforms.

    One area likely to come under renewed focus is direct power purchase agreements, or DPPAs, which are seen as critical to supporting investment in data centres and other industries seeking access to renewable energy.

    Thailand approved a pilot scheme in 2024 allowing eligible data centres to source up to 2,000 megawatts of renewable electricity directly from private producers, but implementation has been slow.

    ThailandUS-Middle East relationsData centresAnutin Charnvirakul

    TRENDING NOW

    Traffic through the strait has been resuming but with interruptions, and there is still little clarity over a permanent solution for passages through the chokepoint.

    Qatari LNG ship struck in Strait of Hormuz, testing US talks

    This comes after a Citi note on Tuesday that lifted target prices for all Singapore banks, with a leading preference and “buy” call for DBS.

    DBS, OCBC and UOB shares hit all-time highs as sentiment improves

    Aster deputy CEO Andre Khor, citing the age of the “polycrisis”, says: “It’s very important to be agile, to be focused on execution… We don’t know all the answers but we keep going forward.”

    ‘Baptism of fire’: Andre Khor on leading Singapore refiner Aster through an energy crisis

    Singapore is ranked as the world’s most expensive city for cars and placed third globally for residential property, according to Julius Baer.

    Singapore retains top spot as most expensive city for HNWIs, with five Apac cities in global top 10

    Latest T-bills Treasury Bills Results & Interest NewsLatest SSB Singapore Savings Bonds NewsLatest COE Certificate of Entitlement News
    Latest Johor-Singapore SEZ NewsLatest BTO Build To Order & Sales of Balance NewsLatest STI Straits Times Index NewsLatest SGX Dividends, Share Price NewsLatest Bonds Market NewsLatest Singapore Stocks To Buy NewsLatest Singapore Economy News
    View More