THAILAND'S national upstream company PTT Exploration and Production has started sounding out the offshore markets ahead of moves to secure fabrication and installation contractors for its $2 billion integrated domestic gas-to-power project in Myanmar. PTTEP is stepping up work on its plans to develop assets in the Gulf of Moattama (Martaban), using the Zawtika field - which is already producing - and Block M-3, which hosts the Aung Sinkha discovery, as a basis for supplying energy into Myanmar. Its determination to develop the project was rewarded on 30 December when the project was officially endorsed by Myanmar's Ministry of Electricity and Energy. However, the military coup of 1 February subsequently cast a shadow over many economic investments in Myanmar. Thailand's criticism of the military regime in Naypyitaw has been muted, although PTTEP acknowledged some difficulties in its second-quarter report, stating that "the recent turbulent situation in Myanmar has caused some delays in certain activities". "The domestic gas-to-power project, after the coup d'etat and political situation in Myanmar in the past few months, has been facing delay. "PTTEP has been closely monitoring the situation to assess risks as well as to prepare for an appropriate action plan," the Thai operator said. PTTEP now seems to be making preparations to move ahead with the project and sources consulted by Upstream said it has made enquiries with offshore and onshore contractors to gauge their interest in the offshore and onshore pipeline scopes of the project.
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