2023.12.13
On December 12, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed a loan agreement with Energy Absolute Public Company Limited (EA) in the Kingdom of Thailand for Private Sector Investment Finance to fund the introduction of electric buses (E-buses) to Bangkok public transport system. The loan is co-financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Export-Import Bank of Thailand and will be implemented through the “Facility for Accelerating Climate Change Resilient and Sustainable Society: ACCESS.”
Transportation in Bangkok is largely dependent on diesel public buses and gasoline vehicles, and consequently, urban environmental issues such as air pollution are becoming more serious every year. In particular, many of the approximately 3,500 vehicles currently owned by the Bangkok Mass Rapid Transit Authority, which operates the public bus service in Bangkok, are older diesel-powered vehicles with poor fuel efficiency and high CO2 emissions, contributing to the serious air pollution described above. By financing EA’s manufacture of E-buses for their introduction to Bangkok, this project will displace internal combustion engine buses in the city, supporting the use of clean public transport in Thailand as a whole. This project will thus result in a reduction in air and noise pollution as well as greenhouse gas emissions.
The E-bus to be introduced.
A scene from the signing ceremony.
Established in 2006, EA is one of the largest renewable energy companies in Thailand, operating four solar- and eight wind-power plants. With 64 subsidiaries, mostly in the energy sector, EA has pioneered and expanded into sustainable transport, e-mobility, and EV charging infrastructure in the country. The company's introduction of E-buses with a low environmental impact through this project is expected to have a ripple effect on the future electrification of public transportation and other modes of transportation in Bangkok.
Until now, JICA has supported the building of clean public transportation and the introduction of measures to reduce air pollution in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region through the provision of Japanese ODA loans for the development of urban railways—such as the Blue Line, Purple Line, and Red Line—technical assistance to formulate traffic improvement master plans for the Bangkok Metropolitan Region, and technical cooperation for preventing and reducing air pollution such as PM2.5. In conjunction with these efforts, through this project, JICA aims to tackle the issues caused by urbanization in Bangkok and to contribute to SDGs Goals 11 (Sustainable cities and communities), 13 (Climate action), and 17 (Partnership for the goals).
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