The Thai government’s various COVID-19-related tax relief measures—most of which were approved by the cabinet in March of this year—have now been formally promulgated and clarified in a series of royal decrees and notifications.

From April 19, 2020, Thai law will allow board meetings and shareholders meetings to take place entirely via electronic means, and attendants will no longer be required to be physically present in Thailand.

In order to qualify as a VSPP, a power producer must generate no more than 10 MW per project, and must comply with the requirements and restrictions set by the Executive Committee of Power Purchase from Community Power Plant Projects. Furthermore, prospective VSPPs may only use one of the following:BiomassBiogas from wastewater or wasteBiogas from biofuelA hybrid of biomass or biogas  with solar power

On March 2, 2020, the Department of Mineral Fuels (DMF) issued its Notification Re: the Determination of Exploration Blocks for the Bidding for Petroleum Exploration and Production B.E. 2563 (2020). This notification, which repeals the Notification of the Department of Mineral Fuels Re: the Determination of Exploration Blocks for the Bidding for Petroleum Exploration and Production B.E. 2561 (2018), allocates the areas to be used as exploration blocks for the 23rd round of bidding for petroleum and exploration production.

On 28 November 2018, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) passed a resolution to extend the Schedule of Operation Date (SCOD) due to force majeure. Subsequently, the ERC issued the Notification Regarding Methods of Considering the Extension of SCOD to Distribute Power to a Commercial Network Due to Force Majeure. However, the notification did not stipulate specific types or sizes of power plants under energy purchase agreements.

Providing Reports and Plans in Accordance with Environmental Management Procedures for the Decommissioning of Installations Used in the Petroleum Industry

Thailand has previously established the Oil Fund in accordance with Prime Minister’s Order No. 4/2547 on 23 December 2004 (“Order”), which required the implementation of a series of measures aimed at resolving and preventing oil shortages.

A recent notification of Thailand’s Capital Market Supervisory Board (CMSB) has extended the scope of previously granted relief measures for securities-issuing companies by relaxing the requirement to hold the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the shareholders before submission of audited financial statements to the Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). One of the main purposes of the AGM is to formally appoint an auditor to audit the financial statements.