Thailand is taking significant strides to transform the Laem Chabang port into an environmentally-friendly green port, aiming to tackle maritime transportation pollution and unlock opportunities for related industries.
The port’s transition aligns with green port directives, emphasizing the reduction of energy and fuel consumption while curbing carbon dioxide emissions.
Caretaker Deputy Government Spokesperson Ratchada Thanadirek revealed that the third stage of the port’s development involves a strategic shift towards electric trucks to minimize fuel consumption.
The plan entails converting approximately 10% of all vehicles at the port, equivalent to around 1,000 trucks per day, to electric-powered ones. This move could potentially lead to an annual reduction of up to 50 million liters of diesel consumption, resulting in fuel cost savings of around 800 million baht, and a substantial decrease in carbon emissions. Moreover, an investment of approximately 600 million baht has been earmarked for boosting solar power capacity at Laem Chabang port, anticipating an average annual increase of 11.1% from 2023 onwards.
Another key aspect of the initiative is the development of a rail freight transport hub. By enhancing cargo handling capacity to 6 million TEUs per year, shipping costs are projected to decrease by about 1.2 billion baht, while also contributing to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
This strategic move is fully in line with Thailand’s vision of enhancing rail transportation at Laem Chabang port. Additionally, the development of the green port is anticipated to create promising business opportunities for manufacturers of electric trucks and batteries, potentially generating revenue of at least 1.8 billion baht. Furthermore, companies operating in the solar cell industry could expect a revenue increase of around 600 million baht from 2024 to 2035.
The endeavor to establish a green port is part of Thailand’s broader strategy to support its growing economy and position itself as a pivotal maritime transport hub in Asia, accommodating the economic expansion of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) and the surrounding region.
