By Thai Newsroom Reporters
ENERGY MINISTER PIRAPAN Salirathavibhaga might possibly be kicked out of his current portfolio in cabinet by de facto Pheu Thai boss Thaksin Shinawatra sooner or later to end an unsolved controversy over high power rates, according to a noted academic.
The billionaire power player might probably be contemplating the ouster of the current energy minister who concurrently acts as leader of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart under surreptitious patronage of former coup leader-turned-prime minister/now privy councilor Prayut Chan-o-cha from the Pheu Thai-led government headed by his daughter-turned-Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra in foreseeable future, said Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket, director of NIDA’s Political & Development Strategies Project.
Whilst Pirapan could possibly either lose the energy minister’s seat and be given another ministerial post instead or be completely reshuffled out of the Paetongtarn cabinet, Thaksin would probably opt to have his ruling party run the energy portfolio in lieu of the Ruam Thai Sang Chart, the third largest coalition partner which would yet be part of the Pheu Thai-led government, the NIDA academic commented.
Pirapan who concurrently performs as deputy prime minister and sits on the National Energy Policy Council had pushed in vain for a cut in the expensive power rates and stood in the way of extending the power purchase contracts between the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and electricity-producing giants, namely Ratch Group Pcl. and Gulf Energy Development Pcl.
Paetongtarn excused that she could not have overpowered any of the 19 NEPC members, 14 of whom being members of cabinet, for a majority resolution to cut the power rates or terminate the contracts scheduled to expire next Monday.
Allegedly frustrated at the inter-party discrepancy over the power rates, the energy minister has encouraged households nationwide to install rooftop solar panels and be no longer dependent on power provided by the electricity-producing giants, among other firms, in effort to alleviate their cost-of-living woes.
Pichai made his comments after the de facto Pheu Thai boss had personally met with Gulf Energy CEO Sarath Ratanavadi during a round of golf in Pathum Thani on Sunday.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: Energy Minister Piraphan Salirathavibhaga. Photos: Thai Rath
Insert: NIDA director Pichai Rattanadilok na Phuket. Photo: Thai Rath
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