A small delegation from the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) paid a courtesy call to the new Energy Minister of Thailand, H.E. Dr Siri Jirapongphan, on the afternoon of 20 December 2017 in Bangkok, Thailand.

ERIA's Special Advisor on Energy Affairs Mr Shigeru Kimura and Energy Economist Dr Han Phoumin met with Minister Jiraphongphan, who previously served as the Executive Director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT), to discuss major issues in Thailand's energy sector, including social acceptance of coal power plant, Thailand Energy 4.0 focusing on electric vehicle (EV), and the plan to mix palm oil with diesel oil.

In the hour-long meeting, Minister Jiraphongphan was accompanied by high level officials such as Mr Thammayot Srichuri, Permanent Secretary and Dr Twarath Sutabutr, Director General of Energy Policy and Planning Office in the Ministry of Energy. The ERIA delegation expressed their support for the Ministry of Energy in trying to find solutions to the issues facing Thailand's energy sector through energy policy research studies.