Thailand’s Senate on August 31 approved an emergency decree authorising the Finance Ministry to borrow up to THB400 billion, a major fiscal measure aimed at cushioning the impact of the energy crisis and financing the country’s energy transition.
The decree passed with 135 senators voting in favour, 11 against and 28 abstaining.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul told senators that existing budget mechanisms did not provide sufficient speed or flexibility to deal with the scale of the energy challenge. The Cabinet had approved the emergency decree on May 5, 2026.
One key issue remains unresolved: officials acknowledged during the Senate debate that no individual projects had yet been submitted for screening under the borrowing programme.
For international investors and Thailand watchers, attention will now shift from the headline borrowing figure to implementation — including which projects are selected, how quickly funds are deployed, and whether the programme materially reduces Thailand’s vulnerability to external energy shocks.
Vihok News
Sources: The Nation
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