March 19, 2008
BANGKOK - Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej said Thailand could become a regional hub by importing oil from Russia, saying the deal would be more concrete in November.
"Russia is willing to make Thailand a regional hub for its oil distribution," Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej told reporters following a meeting with Russia's ambassador to Thailand on Monday.
Samak plans to visit Russia to press ahead with an energy deal, givimg no further details.
The issue will be discussed in detail in around November.
More than 60 percent of oil imports are from the Middle East, notably from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman, according to the Bank of Thailand.
Russia is the world's second-largest crude oil exporter after Saudi Arabia.
Global energy demand is affected by worries over the US sub-prime crisis.
