Bangkok, January 6 (AseanAll) — Thai Deputy Government Spokesperson Lalida Periswiwatana disclosed that the Thai cabinet, in its meeting on January 6, 2026, acknowledged the proposal of Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on the guideline for greenhouse gas reduction through the application of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, a key measure that will contribute to the goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 which aligns with Thailand’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) targets.
In order to ensure systematic and effective implementation of CCS, the cabinet assigned the Department of Climate Change and Environment to be the core agency in liaising the integration of operation and supporting relevant agencies in developing and revising related laws, regulations, measures, and policies.
The cabinet also assigned Ministry of Energy’s Department of Mineral Fuels, as project owner agency, to supervise and coordinate with other relevant agencies during the study and assessment phases of carbon capture and storage in the area around the Upper Gulf of Thailand. The implementation covers seismic survey and exploratory drilling within the Thailand-Japan cooperation framework on the application of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology.
The cabinet also acknowledged the guidelines on assigning concerned agencies respective tasks to ensure that the study be efficiently carried out and yield maximum benefit in line with the objectives. The tasks include granting privileges for import of experts, import duty exemption on materials and equipment required for the project, and facilitating related formalities and procedures as appropriate.
The project is part of the cooperation between Thailand and Japan to study and assess geological formations in the Upper Gulf of Thailand. Once the study confirms feasibility of the project implementation and necessary legal procedure is put in place, both onshore and offshore infrastructure will be developed to commence carbon capture and storage from the year 2034 onward. CCS technology will contribute to the country’s transition toward a low‑carbon industry to enhance competitiveness and support long‑term sustainable economic development.
