Bangkok: The Department of Mineral Fuels, in collaboration with PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP), has awarded 41 million baht in research grants to seven institutions for the study of carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). This grant aims to build knowledge on CCS and drive Thailand towards its goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Warakorn Prommobol, Director-General of the Department of Mineral Fuels, presided over the award ceremony for the grant under the Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Development Project in Thailand. This project, a collaboration between the Department of Mineral Fuels and PTTEP Energy Development Company Limited (PTTEP ED), a subsidiary of PTTEP, supports the Ministry of Energy’s Quick Big Win policy by promoting the development of CCS technology, aiming for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The CCS Development Project in Thailand is a collaborative effort between the Department of Mineral Fuels and PTTEP ED. The initiative accepted proposals from academic institutions and research institutes nationwide from January 23 to March 22, 2025. In September 2025, nine funding projects were selected from seven leading academic institutions and research institutes: Chulalongkorn University, Khon Kaen University, Thammasat University, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Chiang Mai University, the Synchrotron Light Research Institute (SRI), and the Asian Institute of Technology. The total research grants are approximately 41 million baht, with each project lasting approximately two to three years. The selected research projects cover various aspects of the CCS value chain, including science, engineering, environment, modeling and simulation, and social sciences and policy, aiming to advance the CCS business.
Mr. Warakorn Prommobol highlighted that CCS technology is a new and significant advancement for Thailand, with the potential to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, similar to practices adopted by many countries. Promoting CCS projects in Thailand requires cooperation from all sectors to establish clear support policies and mechanisms to facilitate commercial development. This research funding represents a significant collaboration between the public, private, and academic sectors, mobilizing knowledge and expertise to benefit the study and development of CCS in various areas of Thailand. This initiative, alongside clean energy development policies, will promote effective greenhouse gas reduction from the energy sector and supports the pursuit of Net Zero goals, in line with the government’s Quick Big Win policy.
In Thailand, studies on CCS technology application have been ongoing since 2021. PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) has piloted a CCS project at the Arthit natural gas field in the Gulf of Thailand, with a final investment decision announced in September 2025. Carbon dioxide recompression is expected to begin in 2028, serving as a pilot for other CCS projects in the country. Furthermore, the Arthit CCS project has been approved as a key initiative and should be promoted at the policy level under the National Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Action Plan 2021-2030 to tangibly drive Thailand towards its net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal.