Bangkok, 13 March 2026 — The Thai government’s decision on 10 March 2026 to extend the Thailand–Japan Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) cooperation for another three years risks locking Thailand into long-term fossil fuel dependence at a time when the global transition away from fossil fuels is accelerating, Greenpeace Thailand and Greenpeace East Asia warned.
The agreement promotes investment in LNG supply chains and infrastructure in Thailand, potentially paving the way for new LNG contracts and deepening the country’s reliance on imported fossil gas for electricity generation.
Energy cooperation between Thailand and Japan on LNG began in 2015 through joint studies between energy agencies and state enterprises on LNG procurement and infrastructure development in Thailand. The partnership was later elevated to the government level under an energy cooperation framework between Thailand’s Ministry of Energy and Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).
Thailand and Japan signed the LNG cooperation MOU on 16 November 2022 to promote investment and supply chain development in Thailand. On 10 March 2026, the Thai government approved the extension of the agreement for another three years, from 16 November 2025 to 15 November 2028, including provisions for automatic three-year renewals.
The extension is framed as part of Thailand’s strategy to strengthen energy security amid declining domestic gas reserves in the Gulf of Thailand. Fossil gas currently accounts for more than half of Thailand’s electricity generation, increasing the country’s reliance on imported LNG.
Manun Wongmasoh, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Thailand, said:
“Thailand should not signal political intention to extend this LNG MOU because it would lock the country into long-term dependence on fossil gas. Thailand should reconsider plans for new LNG contracts and investments in LNG infrastructure, and instead set more ambitious targets for clean and equitable renewable energy in the new Power Development Plan (PDP).
Thailand should not tie its energy future to fossil fuels like LNG, which are volatile and can no longer guarantee energy security. Thailand has strong potential to invest in clean, decentralized, and equitable renewable energy that can truly strengthen energy security while reducing electricity costs for the public.”
Greenpeace East Asia’s Japan office stated:
“The extension of this MOU with Thailand, under the AZEC framework, is one of many fossil fuel investments Japan is promoting across Southeast Asia. Despite Thailand having the highest potential for solar and wind power in Southeast Asia, only 7 of the 43 AZEC projects involve renewable energy.[1] As the leading economy in the region, Japan should leverage its financial leadership to catalyze our Southeast Asian neighbors’ renewable energy adoption, instead of a fossil gas lock-in.”
Expanding LNG infrastructure and pursuing new LNG contracts now risks anchoring Thailand’s energy grid to fossil fuels for decades. LNG projects typically require large upfront investments and long project lifetimes, creating risks of stranded assets and increased electricity costs for consumers if global energy markets continue to move toward cheaper renewable energy.
Instead of doubling down on imported fossil gas, Greenpeace urges Thailand to accelerate the deployment of renewable energy, energy storage, and modern grid systems to build a resilient, affordable, and truly secure energy future.
Media Contacts:
Rungthip Kunhari, Junior Communications Officer, Greenpeace Thailand, +66 65 414 5029, [email protected]
Yujie Xue, International Communications Officer, Greenpeace East Asia, +852 5127 3416, [email protected]
Reference
[1] AZEC tracker
