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Bangkok rail fares to be capped at B45 from Jan 1

Bangkok commuters are set to benefit from a common fare of no more than 45 baht per trip on all electric train lines from Jan 1, 2027, under a government measure aimed at easing the cost of living.

Officials met on Thursday to review progress on a joint fare system, integrating data, site management and preparing for the introduction of the 45-baht cap, according to Deputy Bangkok governor Wisanu Subsompon.

Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn chaired the meeting, attended by representatives of the Ministry of Transport, the Department of Rail Transport and other agencies.

The fare cap is in line with the government’s aim to reduce people’s travel expenses, make transfers between rail systems more convenient and encourage greater use of public transport.

Fares on electric train lines in the capital region currently range from 17 to 65 baht per trip, depending on the line, operator and distance travelled. Commuting costs can be even higher for those who have to switch lines regularly.

Under the new scheme, fares will initially be calculated in line with existing contractual rates, with a maximum of 45 baht per trip. Passengers transferring between different lines will not be charged a new initial boarding fare.

If a commuter’s normal fare based on the distance travelled exceeds 45 baht, the government will reimburse the difference through the Pao Tang application or the payment card used for the journey within three working days.

Special groups, including elderly people, children, people with disabilities and disadvantaged people, will retain their existing fare discounts.

Authorities will accelerate the installation and upgrading of equipment on the rail network to ensure the system is ready for the official launch on Jan 1.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will facilitate access to Green and Gold Line stations for the installation of temporary readers and electronic data capture (EDC) devices, said Mr Wisanu.

The new system will also support EMV contactless payments, including credit cards, debit cards and Mangmoom cards, he said.

Mr Wisanu also said the BMA would coordinate with the Ministry of Transport, the Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand (MRTA) and Krungthep Thanakom Co in transferring management of the Green Line, including its main route and extensions, as well as the Gold Line.

The transfer would cover assets, revenues and liabilities, with management to be consolidated under the MRTA in accordance with legal procedures.

US, Lockheed sign deal to boost missile production

Lockheed Martin Corp. announced on Thursday that it signed a framework agreement with the United States Department of Defense to accelerate production of the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (JATM). The company said the deal paves the way for a multiyear procurement contract, if approved by Congress.

“We will deliver JATM at the speed our nation and allies demand while providing value for taxpayers and our shareholders,” Lockheed Martin’s Missiles and Fire Control President Tim Cahill said. While it revealed no further details, the Pentagon stated that the agreement is “critical to ensuring long-term demand signals flow to key suppliers.”

DFCC Bank discloses final application breakdown for Rs. 12.5 b deben ture issue

DFCC Bank PLC yesterday disclosed the final breakdown of Type A applications processed for its debenture issue, comprising up to 125 million Basel III-compliant, Tier 2, listed, rated, unsecured, subordinated, redeemable five-year (2026/2031) debentures with a non-viability conversion feature, each with a par value of Rs. 100, aimed at raising up to Rs. 12.5 billion.

According to the final figures, Type A applications totalled 147.68 million debentures valued at Rs. 14.77 billion, across 117 applications.

Of this, payments made by cheques and RTGS accounted for 108.68 million debentures worth Rs. 10.87 billion, from 115 applications, while payments made by bank guarantees accounted for 39 million debentures worth Rs. 3.9 billion, from two applications.

FG launches industrial power drive with 50mw Abuja project

The federal government has launched a drive to provide dedicated electricity to industrial clusters nationwide, beginning with a 50-megawatt project expected to supply 24-hour power to manufacturers at the Idu Industrial Estate in Abuja.

Owan Enoh, Minister of State for Industry, said the initiative forms part of the government’s broader industrialisation strategy aimed at reducing production costs, expanding local manufacturing and creating jobs.

Speaking Thursday at the groundbreaking of the Abuja project, Enoh said unreliable electricity remained a major constraint on industrial productivity and that efforts to renew the manufacturing sector would be difficult without addressing Nigeria’s energy deficit.

He said the government’s industrial strategy was focused on local production, value addition, economic diversification and stronger integration of Nigerian businesses into global markets.

‘When you produce locally, you contribute to job creation. For our abundant youth, you provide for them a pathway for employment,’ Enoh said.

He added that higher domestic production would reduce reliance on imported goods, conserve foreign exchange and strengthen the economy against external disruptions.

According to Enoh, the administration was seeking to move beyond policy declarations by developing practical models that could be replicated across industrial clusters.

The Abuja project, he said, was an example of how dependable electricity could enable factories to increase production, expand operations and hire more workers.

Enoh said the industrial power initiative should be viewed as part of a broader effort to rebuild Nigeria’s productive capacity rather than as an isolated electricity project.

Reliable power, he said, would improve factory utilisation, encourage local sourcing of raw materials, increase value addition and create employment.

‘Industrial renewal is not a sprint. It is a marathon,’ Enoh said, calling for sustained cooperation among government, the private sector and beneficiary communities to protect the infrastructure and ensure the projects deliver their intended economic benefits.

He said the government’s objective was to shift from an economy constrained by unreliable infrastructure to one where industrial production could operate continuously and compete more effectively.

The initiative is also linked to President Bola Tinubu’s target of building a $1 trillion economy, which the government says will require higher productivity and deeper industrialisation rather than continued dependence on raw-material exports.

Afolabi Aiyela, Managing Director of Welbeck Electricity Distribution Limited, said the Abuja project would initially generate 10MW from a site near the AKK gas pipeline in Zuba. The electricity will be transmitted to the Idu Industrial Estate through a 33-kilovolt line.

He said the remaining 40MW would be developed within the industrial estate once the gas pipeline is extended to the area. The estate currently has potential electricity demand of between 300MW and 400MW, indicating the scale of the power shortfall facing manufacturers.

Aiyela said the first phase would prioritise Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises and large indigenous companies, with subsequent phases expected to extend coverage to other manufacturers in the estate.

Joseph Tegbe, minister of power, said the government was adopting captive and decentralised generation to connect electricity production directly to industrial consumers.

He said technical audits were also being conducted on power infrastructure along major industrial corridors, with the Lagos industrial axis, Abuja-Kaduna corridor and Enugu-Onitsha axis identified as priorities.

Tegbe said the Lagos industrial corridor accounts for about 40% of national electricity demand and that interventions to improve supply were expected to create or restore about 180,000 jobs there within six months.

He cautioned that resolving Nigeria’s power challenges would require sustained investment across the electricity value chain, from gas supply and generation to transmission and distribution. Vandalism and energy theft, he said, also pose significant threats to investment.

The government is considering extending gas pipelines to industrial locations or generating electricity in gas-rich areas and transmitting it to industrial centres, Tegbe disclosed

New oil plan supports net-zero emissions target

Thailand is in the final stage of preparing its new national oil plan, which is designed to support the country’s goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The plan is expected to be launched soon, according to the Department of Energy Business (DOEB), as director-general Sarawut Kaewtathip said the climate target requires significant changes across both the transport and fuel sectors.

Thailand remains reliant on imported crude oil, sourcing more than 90% of its crude requirements from overseas. This dependence leaves the country vulnerable to global price fluctuations, supply disruptions and geopolitical tensions, as current conflicts in the Middle East have triggered volatile energy costs and delivery delays.

The plan covers 2026 to 2050, with a goal of reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels by increasing the use of domestically produced fuels, cleaner energy alternatives and more efficient fuel infrastructure, while gradually lowering carbon emissions.

Compared with the 2024 oil plan, the 2026 version significantly expands the role of biofuels, Mr Sarawut said.

Biofuel use will extend beyond road transport, where E20 gasohol and B20 biodiesel are already promoted, to the aviation and maritime sectors. Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) will play a key role in reducing emissions from air transport, while low-carbon marine fuels, including B24 biodiesel blends, will be introduced for the shipping industry, he said.

E20 is expected to become Thailand’s main petrol grade, while B20 will remain the country’s primary clean diesel option, Mr Sarawut noted.

E20 contains 20% ethanol, while B20 is blended with 20% palm oil-derived methyl ester.

The plan also supports the use of transition fuels, particularly liquefied natural gas (LNG) in the transport sector, he said. LNG emits around 20-30% less carbon dioxide than conventional oil products and offers a longer driving range than compressed natural gas.

According to joint research conducted by the DOEB and Chulalongkorn University, Thailand’s oil demand is projected to peak this year before gradually declining to about half its peak level by 2050.

The reduction will be driven largely by the growing adoption of electric vehicles, while demand for jet fuel and liquefied petroleum gas is expected to decline at a slower pace, the research noted.

Thailand’s six major oil refineries will receive government support to accelerate the production of SAF and other low-carbon fuels, according to the plan. The support includes investment incentives approved by the Board of Investment in 2025, as well as the introduction of fuel quality standards aimed at strengthening market confidence.

To improve efficiency in fuel distribution, the government plans to expand pipeline transport to comprise 45-55% of total fuel movement. The strategy includes new pipeline interconnection regulations, fair access rules for operators and tax reforms designed to reduce logistics costs.

Regarding energy security, the DOEB is working with the International Energy Agency to optimise Thailand’s strategic oil reserves.

The initiative focuses on maximising existing storage facilities and establishing a central monitoring system to improve crisis management without imposing additional costs on consumers, Mr Sarawut said.

Govt urged to finalise expo details

Nakhon Ratchasima: The provincial Chamber of Commerce has called on the government to finalise a clear timeline and master plan for the 2029 World Horticultural Expo, following the cabinet’s decision to relocate the event from Khong district to Pak Chong district.

Chamber chair Paijit Manasil said only about three years and two months are left for preparations.

He said the relocation necessitates restarting several key procedures, including the inspection and certification of the new site by the International Association of Horticultural Producers.

“It is crucial for the government to confirm quickly whether all necessary preparations can be completed in time for the expo in 2029,” Mr Paijit said.

He urged the need for a clear plan so transport, public health, irrigation and utilities agencies, along with the private sector, can coordinate infrastructure development and other preparations.

Additionally, the chamber proposed developing the original site in Khong as a long-term agricultural centre, rather than allowing it to go unused.

This site, which has already undergone some preparations for the expo, could serve as a central agricultural market for the Northeast, similar to the Marketing Organisation for Farmers, it said.

It could also function as an agricultural research and development centre, the chamber said.

The chamber also urged the government to expedite infrastructure development, particularly for rail links.

They anticipate the expo will attract at least 3 million visitors and are advocating for the high-speed railway to begin operations by late 2029, earlier than the current target of 2030, to improve access to the province.

27 held in Surat Thani for Thai ID card fraud

SURAT THANI – Authorities arrested 27 people including civil servants and Thai residents of this southern province for allegedly facilitating the issuance of Thai ID cards for migrant workers.

Three civil servants, nine Thai homeowners and 15 migrant workers were arrested in Kanchanadit and Koh Samui districts on Wednesday and Thursday.

The Thai homeowners made false statements to certify the migrants were Thais, said deputy national police chief Pol Gen Samran Nualma, who visited Surat Thani on Thursday.

According to Pol Gen Samran, the people were involved in the issuance of Category 0 Thai ID cards for migrant workers.

Category 0 ID cards, containing a 13-digit identification number starting with 0, are usually issued to stateless persons, marginalised groups or residents in remote or border regions without formal civil registration.

Migrants with such ID cards have access to many basic Thai public services and can later apply for full Thai citizenship.

The arrests this week were part of a follow-up investigation after a crackdown on suspects in another corrupt ID card issuance case in Don Sak, Surat Thani in July.

Registration fraud has been a growing problem in Thailand, with offences taking many forms, including identity theft involving inactive registrants, false birth registrations, false marriages, and misuse of education entitlements.

CANANEWS AND SPORTS SCHEDULE AT 1200 ECT

The following is the CANANews and SPORTS Schedule for Thursday, September 17, 2026

GEORGETOWN – A Trans Guyana Airways aircraft skidded off the Mabaruma airstrip in Region One on Thursday morning after the pilot reportedly saw a dog running towards the runway during the aircraft’s landing roll.

KINGSTON – Work is under way on an $8.1-billion (One Jamaica dollar=US$0.008 cents) project to reconstruct and upgrade the aircraft apron at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), as part of a major modernisation programme at the Kingston facility.

KINGSTOWN – The Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines has signed a data management and protection agreement with California-based Quantum Inc., paving the way for local dasheen and hot pepper farmers to enter the United States market.

BRIDGETOWN – Barbados is exploring the use of pump harvesters to collect sargassum at sea before the seaweed reaches the island’s heavily affected beaches.

SPORTS

MIES – The latest FIBA World Ranking for Women has revealed a seismic shift in the global basketball landscape, with Caribbean nations making significant strides up the ladder.

Agege 2027: Obasa had no hand in our defection – Egunjobi, Yusuf

Former Chairman of Agege Local Government Area of Lagos State, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, and Azeez Oladapo Yusuf have dismissed reports linking their defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Seaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudasiru Obasa.

The duo, who contested the APC tickets for Agege Constituencies I and II respectively, emerged as candidates of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, on Thursday.

Their defection came after a controversial APC primary in which Egunjobi’s former Vice-Chairman, Gbenga Abiola, was declared the winner of the Agege Constituency I ticket, while Hon. Sakiru Sule Enimakure emerged as the party’s candidate for Constituency II.

Egunjobi and Yusuf, however, insisted that they won the primaries and were denied the tickets despite what they described as a transparent electoral process.

Their emergence as APM candidates subsequently fuelled speculation that Obasa, who is regarded as their political leader, had orchestrated their departure from the APC.

But the two politicians, in a joint statement, firmly rejected the suggestion, insisting that their decision was theirs alone.

They said they were mature politicians, adults and parents capable of taking independent decisions concerning their political careers.

The duo also argued that movement from one political party to another was not unusual in Nigerian politics, noting that prominent politicians had crossed party lines at different times.

They cited former Minister of State for Defence, Musiliu Obanikoro, who is now Director-General of the governorship campaign of the APC candidate, Obafemi Hamzat, as an example.

According to them, Obanikoro had previously left the ruling party for the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and had at some point been critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

They therefore questioned why their own decision to leave the APC had become a subject of controversy.

‘What is the issue with our decision to leave? Obanikoro once left the party and was even openly critical of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

‘We did not leave then. We remained, strengthened the party and contributed to its growth. We had never contemplated leaving until we were confronted with what we considered grave injustice,’ they said.

Egunjobi and Yusuf said they were particularly disappointed that the APC leadership failed to initiate any meaningful reconciliation effort after the disputed primaries.

They said the party’s leaders were fully aware of their grievances, having received petitions from them after the tickets were allegedly taken from them and handed to other aspirants.

According to the duo, despite their complaints and the seriousness of the dispute, neither of them was invited to a meeting where the matter could be properly addressed or resolved.

They also alleged that some party leaders had sought to justify the controversial outcomes by invoking the name of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The two politicians claimed that party members were being told that the decision to deny them and other aspirants in some local governments their tickets had come from Tinubu.

They, however, described the claim as an attempt to mislead party members and shield those responsible for the disputed decisions, insisting that they were not aware of any directive from the President authorising such action.

They said the repeated reference to Tinubu’s name had further deepened the frustration among affected aspirants who, according to them, had been left without any opportunity for genuine reconciliation.

The former APC aspirants maintained that their decision to join the APM was therefore a direct consequence of what they described as the denial of their mandates during the APC primaries.

They alleged that they emerged victorious in the primary elections conducted in their respective constituencies and that the exercises were witnessed by officials of relevant government agencies.

‘We won the primaries in our respective constituencies convincingly. Officials of INEC, the DSS and other relevant agencies monitored the exercises, and we were declared winners at the venues.

‘Yet, despite those results Egunjobi scored 9, 132

the party leadership subsequently announced Abiola who had 434 votes and Enimakure who on his part recorded 31 votes while Yusuf had 8,299 as its candidates. We consider that decision a profound injustice,’ they said.

The duo said they subsequently explored the available channels within the party by submitting petitions and seeking redress, but were disappointed that the leadership did not invite them for reconciliation or provide a satisfactory resolution to their complaints.

They stressed that their defection should therefore not be interpreted as a move engineered by Obasa or any other political figure.

Rather, they said it was a decision they took after considering their experience within the APC and the failure to resolve the dispute over the primary elections.

Egunjobi and Yusuf added that they had remained loyal to the APC and contributed to its growth in Agege despite previous political challenges, but could no longer overlook what they described as the denial of victories they believed they legitimately secured.

Co-op boosts dollar lending capacity with $100m currency swap

Co-operative Bank of Kenya has boosted its capacity to provide long-term dollar financing to Kenyan businesses after securing a $100 million (Sh12.9 billion) currency swap programme with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

A currency swap allows two parties to exchange a loan in one currency for an equivalent loan in another currency. The swap locks in a pre-agreed exchange rate, protecting both parties from market changes.

At the start, they exchange the principal amounts at an agreed exchange rate. During the swap, each party pays interest on the currency it has received. At the end, the principal amounts are exchanged back.

Currency swaps are used to obtain foreign currency loans at a better interest rate than a company could obtain by borrowing directly in a foreign market.

The first $50 million (Sh6.5 billion) tranche of the programme has been executed through a cross-currency swap using the Kenya Shilling Overnight Interbank Average (Kesonia) as a reference rate, making it the first such transaction in the country to use the benchmark.

The arrangement is expected to strengthen Co-op Bank’s ability to provide long-term foreign-currency financing to businesses, particularly those with revenues, costs or contractual obligations denominated in foreign currencies.

The structure gives Co-op Bank additional capacity to mobilise dollar funding while managing the foreign-currency and interest-rate risks associated with conventional dollar borrowing.

Co-op Bank’s chief executive Gideon Muriuki said the currency swap with the multilateral bank would enhance the local lender’s ability to provide long-term foreign-currency financing to businesses.

‘Our partnership with the EBRD under this $100 million currency swap programme represents an important milestone in our commitment to supporting Kenyan businesses with innovative financing solutions,’ said Mr Muriuki.

‘The first $50 million tranche enhances our ability to provide long-term, competitively priced foreign currency financing to help businesses strengthen their competitiveness while contributing to Kenya’s economic development and job creation.’

The bank’s target sectors include exporters, manufacturers, agriculture and agro-processing, horticulture, floriculture, logistics and tourism.

The arrangement is especially relevant to companies participating in regional and global value chains, which often have revenues, costs or contractual obligations denominated in foreign currencies.

Businesses can use the financing to acquire machinery, equipment, technology and raw materials, as well as meet working-capital requirements linked to imports and exports.

EBRD regional head of Local-Currency Portfolio Management, Abdessamad Abouti, said the transaction demonstrates the use of Kenya’s new benchmark in an international financial-market transaction, following efforts to develop local capital markets.

‘We have worked closely with local authorities and market participants to support the development of Kesonia, and this swap shows how reforms can move from design to implementation, reflecting the EBRD’s longstanding commitment to developing local capital markets,’ said Mr Abouti.

The EBRD deal is part of Co-op Bank’s strategy of working with international financial institutions to increase funding available to Kenyan enterprises and support trade and investment.