In an interview with Thai daily The Nation, former EGAT governor Sitthiporn Rattanopas said, “EGAT refused to sign the contract because [I believe] the high price PTT is insisting upon [will] translate to the public having to pay more for gas.”

However, PTT senior executive vice president Chitrapongse Kwangusuksathit believes his company’s pricing was spot on and EGAT would soon be signing on the dotted line.

“The price set by PTT is appropriate [and] the project is still on course for its early 2006 completion deadline, even though EGAT has not signed the contract yet. [Negotiations] are progressing well and PTT is confident a contract will be signed with EGAT by the end of the year.”