CNG News: 2nd October 2009

Bangkok bus-lease deal approved by Thai Cabinet

The Bt66-billion NGV bus-leasing scheme, pushed by the Bhum Jai Thai Party, a powerful member of the Democrat-led coalition government, finally won the Cabinet's blessing yesterday despite strong criticism that it was more about political horse-trading... A Thailand Transport Ministry’s Bt66-billion (almost USD 2 billion) NGV bus-leasing scheme, for 4,000 air-conditioned buses fuelled by compressed natural gas (CNG) over a 10-year period, has reportedly won the Thailand Cabinet’s blessing. The Cabinet has spent several months considering various options to fund the busses before apparently settling on the lease program. A senate watch-committee will oversee the implementation, including a competitive bidding process. According to a report by The Nation, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said the Cabinet had made its decision based on recommendations from the National Economic and Social Development Board, which concluded that leasing was less risky than an outright purchase.