BCCT Lunch With Deputy PM Korbsak

Deputy PM Korbsak Sabhavasu spoke at yesterday's BCCT lunch at the Banyan Tree. Last year events like these were well-attended and perhaps it is a sign of the times that numbers were low.

The Deputy PM gave, at times, an interesting speech, some of which has been reported in The Bangkok Post today where they focussed on his comments on the April disturbances.

I found another of his comments much more interesting: "No more cheap fuel."

This is a commendable, if brave, comment for government to make. The reliance on imported fuel does the country no favours as prices are certain to rise in the future. By abolishing subsidies now people in the country will feel a little squeeze, but it may also encourage use of alternative energies.

The minister argued that hybird cars will become more commonplace, and electricity will be the main source of energy. While this is all well and good, how will the electricity be produced. Will it be dirty fuel from coal-powered generation stations, or can the government become a regional leader in alternative energy with huge incentives for developers and producers of solar cells, wind power generators and the like encouraged to invest in Thailand and prepare for business of the future? Or is that too much to ask?