Category: The Bangkok Post

Energy authorities are preparing to expand Thailand’s electricity generation capacity amid mounting concerns that rising demand from resource-intensive businesses, particularly data centres, could strain the national grid.

An energy official who requested anonymity said Thailand’s current installed capacity is 46,191 megawatts, excluding renewable sources. Peak demand during the hot season reached 36,758MW, leaving a reserve margin of less than 30%.

That figure marks a decline from last year’s 38% reserve margin, according to an energy analyst.

The official dismissed claims by some observers that Thailand has reserve capacity of more than 50%, stressing that intermittent sources such as solar, wind and biomass cannot be counted as reliable supply.

Solar and wind power are inter- mittent sources of electricity, with output dependent on sunlight and weather conditions, which can affect supply stability.

Concerns are growing that the rapid expansion of data centres could push reserve margins below the international benchmark of 15%.

Each facility consumes between 5-10MW, far higher than the average factory’s demand of less than 3MW, the official said.

“State grids and power distributors are expanding distribution capacity in areas experiencing bottlenecks without building new power plants, especially now that data centres have begun operating in Thailand,” he said.

Options to expand capacity include calling for bids for new power plants, repowering retired facilities and increasing the use of renewable energy.

However, gas-fired and coal-fired generation have limitations, the official noted.

Thailand’s domestic gas supply has peaked, leaving the country more reliant on imported liquefied natural gas, which exposes it to price volatility.

While concessions for existing gas-fired plants could be renewed at a lower cost than constructing new ones, new coal-fired projects are off the table due to commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions under the UN Development Programme, the official said.

Senior officials have yet to discuss nuclear power, although small modular reactor technology is being considered internationally.

The official stressed any new capacity must be weighed carefully, given its impact on electricity prices, emissions and fuel security.

Thailand’s energy planners now face a balancing act: meeting surging demand from data centre businesses while safeguarding supply stability and adhering to environmental commitments.

The British motorcyclist charged in the death of a prominent doctor on Koh Phangan will also face charges of running a tour boat business through a Thai nominee.

The suspect, Duncan Wilcock, 51, has already been charged with reckless driving causing serious injury, fleeing the scene of an accident, driving without a valid licence, operating an unregistered vehicle without compulsory insurance, drug use and driving under the influence of alcohol causing serious injury.

The charges have now been upgraded to reckless driving causing death.

The victim, Assoc Prof Dr Theerasuk Kawamatawong, 53, was pronounced dead at Ramathibodhi Hospital on Sunday.

The doctor had suffered severe brain trauma after allegedly being struck by Mr Wilcock’s motorcycle on the night of May 23.

– Nominee business investigation –

Koh Phangan police expanded their investigation to include the suspect’s business activities.

They allege Mr Wilcock set up a nominee structure to illegally operate a tour boat business.

He was a shareholder in Reef Charter Co Ltd. The company had one managing director, identified as Jamnong Rungruang, who later admitted he was merely a boat driver occasionally hired by Mr Wilcock.

Although company records showed two shareholders, Mr Wilcock (49%) and Mr Jamnong (51%), Mr Jamnong allegedly said he had not actually invested in the business. He had allowed his documents to be used in the belief it was related to his employment.

Four additional nominee-related charges against Mr Wilcock include submitting false information to authorities, operating a tourism business restricted to Thai nationals, allowing a Thai national to assist in a prohibited foreign business, and operating a business without proper permission.

According to police investigators, the suspect confessed to all charges during questioning.

Further investigation revealed that Ameena Accounting Phangan Co Ltd was involved in establishing the nominee structure. The accounting firm was reportedly part of a broader network previously targeted in a crackdown on foreign nominee businesses on May 23.

Police said the investigation was continuing, along with legal action against all involved parties.

More than 8.86 million State Welfare Card holders have completed registration to confirm their eligibility for the 2026 State Welfare Registration Programme, with over 8.45 million of them verified, the Finance Ministry said on Saturday.

Attapol Attaworadej, deputy permanent secretary of the ministry, said that as of midnight on June 4, a total of 8,865,427 current cardholders had completed registration.

Of the total, 5,473,320 registered through the programme website, 1,244,416 via the Tang Rath app, 1,188,530 through the Pao Tang app, 614,723 at registration units at five participating banks and 344,438 through Krungthai Bank ATMs.

The ministry said 8,454,728 registrants have completed the verification process, while 410,699 registrations remain incomplete.

Applicants can check their registration status through all available channels, including the programme websites and service points at the five participating banks.

Those who registered online and verified their identity using a national ID card are advised to check whether their status reads “registration successfully confirmed”.

If so, no further action is required, and applicants should await the qualification screening results, which the ministry will announce on July 17.

Registrants whose status shows “information on ID card is incorrect” must restart the registration process through any of the available channels.

Those with incomplete verification must re-register before the registration deadline on June 21.

Arsenic and lead levels exceeding surface-water standards were detected at three monitoring locations in Saraburi’s canal network, the Pollution Control Department (PCD) said.

The findings were based on water samples collected on May 27 from Klong Nong Nam Khiao, Klong Ket and Huai Takhe as authorities investigate the source of pollution that recently turned parts of the waterway black.

However, tests showed that raw water met Type 3 surface-water standards, and treated tap water complied with drinking-water safety limits.

At the upstream section of Klong Nong Nam Khiao, arsenic was measured at 0.013 mg/litre and lead at 0.072 mg/litre, above the respective limits of 0.010 mg/litre and 0.050 mg/litre.

Elevated arsenic levels were also detected downstream of an industrial estate, where arsenic reached 0.019 mg/litre.

At Kut Nok Phlao weir, arsenic and lead were recorded at 0.020 mg/litre and 0.076 mg/litre, respectively, both above surface-water standards.

The PCD said no heavy metals exceeding standards were detected downstream from Huai Takhe near Suankularb Witthayalai School to the end of Klong Phriao, although some metals were found at certain points.

The PCD said analysis is under way to determine possible links between the heavy metals and pollution sources, based on findings from joint inspections carried out with the Department of Industrial Works (DIW) on May 28 and Thursday.

Additional sediment samples will also need to be examined for examine heavy-metals, said the department.

The Thailand Consumers Council is representing 10 scam victims suing internet platform operators Meta, Apple, Line and banks for 230 million baht in total damages.

Council lawyers helped the 10 scam victims file their lawsuit at the Civil Court on Rachadaphisek Road in Bangkok on Monday.

Lawyer Nannapatsorn Techapanyapipat said the complaints targeted Meta Platforms Inc which owns Facebook, Line, Apple and banks.

The victims were lured with scam advertisements on Facebook, invited to join investment scam groups on Line and transferred money to scam gangs through the systems of banks.

Ms Nannapatsorn said her clients had wanted to learn about the securities exchange and searched for relevant information in Facebook. The platform then presented investment scam pages which showed the pictures of well-known investment gurus.

The victims then were invited to join Line groups where they were ‘educated’ about stock trading and watched trainers’ clips.

Afterwards the victims were lured into trading securities through apps that they had to download from the Apple Store. Then they were scammed.

Saree Aongsomwang, secretary-general of the Thailand Consumers Council, said the overseas parent companies controlled content on their platforms, received revenue shares and made profit from content. Therefore, the legal action targeted the mother companies, not their Thailand-based branches which had only supportive responsibilities.

Ms Saree said the banks that handled transactions for scam networks should have noticed the illicit business activity and prevented the victims transferring money to scammers.

The demanded restitution totals 230 million baht. The consumer council expects the action now initiated will help protect other innocent people, she said.

One of the complainants told reporters she lost 165 million baht to one of the investment scams. She had been lured by people on Facebook and Line into downloading an investment app from the Apple Store.

She had previously filed complaints with government organisations, but they had not been heeded.

The Civil Court will convene a meeting of the parties concerned on Aug 3.

Passengers at Don Mueang airport may soon need to watch their step, quite literally, as concerns grow over poorly maintained flooring, adding to the mounting list of infrastructure worries at one of Bangkok’s busiest gateways.

This veteran airport, long a hub for low-cost carriers, handles tens of thousands of travellers each day. It has earned a reputation for efficiency and convenience, yet its age is beginning to show in more ways than one.

While authorities push ahead with ambitious expansion plans, signs of wear and tear are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore – and not just by those who enjoy people-watching while waiting for a flight. (continues below)

Past incidents have already cast a spotlight on maintenance standards. A widely reported accident involving a loose metal plate on a moving walkway, which resulted in a serious injury, prompted authorities to shut down walkways across the airport for inspection and vow improvements. Though not strictly a flooring issue, the incident raised uncomfortable questions about the condition of surfaces passengers rely on every day – especially those who prefer to keep both feet firmly on the ground.

Structural concerns have also surfaced in other parts of the ageing complex. In one incident, a service hall suffered roof damage during a storm, triggering official investigations into construction standards and resilience. While no injuries were reported, the episode did little to reassure travellers already navigating crowded terminals and ageing facilities with the occasional sense of adventure.

More recently, travellers have taken to social media and online forums to share tales of uneven tiles, worn-out surfaces and the odd unsettling wobble underfoot. These may sound like minor irritations but such stories tend to travel quickly, often faster than the budget flights departing from the airport. For expatriates unfamiliar with Thailand’s infrastructure quirks, the experience can feel like an unexpected balancing act, particularly when rushing to catch a flight.

The irony is difficult to overlook. Authorities are promoting Don Mueang as a central pillar of Thailand’s aviation future, with plans to boost capacity to tens of millions of passengers annually. Yet on the ground, the daily experience can sometimes feel stuck in an earlier era. While sleek new terminals and upgraded facilities are promised, some passengers might settle for a simpler upgrade – a smooth, even stroll to the departure gate.

Airports of Thailand (AOT) has pledged improvements as part of broader development plans, promising upgrades to infrastructure and higher maintenance standards. However, questions remain over whether routine upkeep is keeping pace with the airport’s growing passenger numbers and operational demands.

For now, Don Mueang remains a vital and functional gateway to Thailand, particularly for budget travellers and regional flights. But until improvements fully materialise, seasoned passengers may wish to keep one eye on their boarding pass – and the other on the floor.

Thailand can learn from watching first-timer teams in the Fifa World Cup 2026 tournament when it starts later this week, former Thai national player and prominent coach Sasom Pobprasert says.

Sasom, the PT Prachuap FC coach, said in a PPTV interview the tournament would give the Thai team an opportunity to study the performance of teams taking part for the first time, how they got there – and why.

The governing body has this year expanded the number of teams competing in the World Cup finals to 48. This gives small countries, including Thailand, a greater opportunity to join the big names, at least in the first stage.

To date only the Thai Women’s team has had any success at all, competing in the Fifa Women’s World Cup tournament in 2015 and 2019.

“This World Cup will show how small countries reached the finals [for the first time] and show the gap when they play against world-class national teams,” said Mr Sasom, who was a midfielder for the national team in 1997 and is a football analyst.

“Their performances on the pitch will show whether the Thai team can emulate their success,” he said.

Cape Verde, Curacao, Jordan and Uzbekistan are in the World Cup for the first time. Covering just 4,033 square kilometres, Cape Verde, an island off the west African coast, is the smallest nation by area, and Curacao is the smallest in terms of population, only 156,000.

This year’s World Cup starts on Thursday and the final will be played on July 19. Mexico, the United States and Canada are co-hosting the matches.

Immigration police have arrested three foreign nationals in Mae Hong Son’s Pai district as part of a crackdown on illegal business operations, nominee shareholding arrangements and labour law violations.

The arrests followed investigations into suspected illegal business activities involving foreign nationals.

An Israeli man identified as Goren was arrested under a warrant issued by the Mae Hong Son Provincial Court.

He is accused of providing false information to officials and violating the Foreign Business Act by using Thai nominees to operate a studio business in the district.

An American man identified as Frank was arrested on charges of working without a valid permit and failing to report the presence of a foreign national at a residence within the period required by law.

The third suspect, a Spanish woman identified as Natalia, was nabbed for working without a work permit.

Following their arrests, police searched five locations to gather additional evidence and identify Thai nationals suspected of acting as nominees in an expanded investigation.

The Immigration Bureau said it would enforce laws against nominee arrangements, illegal business operations and unauthorised employment by foreign nationals to ensure fair economic competition and strengthen national security.

According to the Technology Crime Suppression Division, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), there were over 50,000 cases of online shopping fraud from January to March, including delivery of products that did not match their advertisement and non-delivery even though payment had been made. The total damage exceeded 600 million baht.

Two years ago, an online shopping scam destroyed the life of a high school student in Nakhon Si Thammarat who paid 18,500 baht for an iPhone 13 through a social media platform. However, after she discovered she had been scammed, she was devastated and took her own life.

Since online shopping scams can lead to severe consequences, the Thailand Consumer Council (TCC) recently organised a forum on Facebook titled “Being Scammed Online Isn’t Just Bad Luck. It Is Because of Legal Loopholes” to discuss online scams and provide knowledge to the public so that people can protect themselves.

In the forum, the moderator, Atirut Kittipatana, showed a power strip as a product that is often involved in scams. He said a power strip that meets Thai national safety standards must have a certified logo of the Thai Industrial Standards Institute (TISI). Although the power strip in his hand had a TISI certification logo, it felt unusually light and when he unscrewed it, he found no internal electrical circuitry.

Atirut admitted that he had experienced scams when buying products online. When consumers like Atirut buy products from fraudulent online stores, they do not know how to seek compensation because these stores operate without verifiable identities and usually block victims after they receive payment.

Asst Prof Weerapun Rungseevijitprapa, a member of the TCC’s subcommittee on General Goods and Services, stated that the organisation receives approximately 200 to 300 complaints per day from consumers regarding online shopping scams. Although monetary losses are not high, the number of victims is quite high.

“When you intend to purchase an item, you should seek information about its average price. For example, a power strip costs around 400 to 500 baht in department stores. However, fraudulent online stores may offer them for less than 200 baht. You should be cautious; if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. You should read reviews and be cautious of those that seem overly positive,” Asst Prof Weerapun warned.

“Consumers should purchase products from platforms with an escrow payment system. When a buyer purchases a product, the platform holds the payment. If the consumer does not receive products they ordered or the products are not as advertised or there is some other problem, they can claim a refund. I believe there are many cases where consumers did not purchase products on these platforms and were unable to pursue legal action.”

Pol Col Neti Wongkularb, deputy commander of the Technology Crime Suppression Division, CIB, revealed that last year, there were over 200,000 cases of online shopping fraud which caused damages worth 2 billion baht.

Pol Col Neti explained that online scammers come in two forms. The first form involves stores on platforms with an escrow system. In this case, when consumers receive products which do not match the description, the escrow system allows consumers to claim a refund. The second form is a total scam where fraudulent pages are created on social media platforms and involve mule accounts. This makes it difficult to track the payments and scammers.

As the director of the Platform Business Supervision and Inspection Department, Electronic Transactions Development Agency (ETDA), Supachitra Laohawattanapinyo explained that the ETDA acts as the regulatory body for digital businesses under the Royal Decree on the Operation of Digital Platform Service Business Act B.E. 2565 (2022).

The ETDA works closely with two state agencies: TISI and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Products requiring licences and/or certifications from these two agencies include those subject to mandatory TISI standards, cosmetics, herbal products and medical devices.

If a platform is one of the 21 e-commerce platforms designated by the ETDA, the platform must verify the identity of its sellers. If the TISI, FDA and police require seller identification, the platform must be able to provide the necessary information.

Supachitra emphasised that products on these 21 platforms must have valid licences, and the platforms are mandated to require sellers to display a QR code that allows consumers to verify the authenticity of their licence because there are many fraudulent or stolen licences.

In addition, the platform is mandated to maintain a functioning notice and takedown system. This means that when consumers encounter a problematic and/or unsafe product and report it to the platform, it must remove that product so that other users will not encounter the same issue.

Since platform sellers are divided into corporate and individual accounts, corporates must register with the Department of Business Development (DBD). Prachaya Pairojkulmanee, the director of the E-Commerce Division (DBD), revealed that for individual sellers, this is voluntary.

“The DBD encourages individual sellers to register as DBD Registered which will help build consumer confidence in purchasing products. However, since registration is voluntary, only about 100,000 out of 2 million sellers have registered. Many sellers are hesitant to register because they worry that registration might involve tax audits. The DBD is actually not involved in any tax matters,” explained Prachaya.

To improve the efficiency of the platform, Supachitra explained that the ETDA encourages e-commerce platforms to adopt self-regulation.

Verifying sellers is self-regulation, but platforms could expand their measures beyond ETDA’s current requirement that products meet TISI and FDA standards. Additionally, Supachitra stated that the ETDA can support platforms in persuading individual sellers to register as DBD Registered as it helps verify identities.

Moreover, the ETDA has introduced a draft notification from the Electronic Transactions Commission to define the duties of social media platforms.

“For example, if there is an advertisement, platforms must have a process for verifying advertisers’ identities. The ETDA is initially focusing on advertisers because advertisement on social media can specifically target groups and/or large audiences depending on the amount of money they spend on advertising,” explained Supachitra.

“Since platforms receive payment, they must know who the advertisers are. If there are scams on their platforms, they must be held responsible for the damage incurred. This measure has already undergone public hearing and will be officially enacted in the future.”

Pol Col Neti pointed out that social media platforms including Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) are common channels of scammers.

“These platforms should be subject to e-commerce regulations. If they claim that they are not e-commerce platforms, they should prohibit selling products. If transactions occur through these social media platforms, they must be held accountable. They cannot simply claim to be just social media platforms since they benefit from these activities,” said Pol Col Neti.

“In the meantime, people should not purchase products through social platforms. If they really want to purchase goods, to be safe, they should choose cash on delivery.”

At least three residents and a firefighter were injured, and people were evacuated, when a fire destroyed five houses in the Phraram 6 community in Pathumwan district of Bangkok on Monday morning.

The Pathumwan district office said the fire started about 8.06am in the community of mostly wooden houses on soi 15 off Rama VI Road. The flames spread quickly, engulfing about five houses and another building was scorched and cracked.

Nearby residents were evacuated to a shelter set up at Wat Sabua school. Firefighters declared the blaze under control at 10.24am.