Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (GULF), a regional
powerhouse in sustainable energy and infrastructure, has forged a strategic alliance with Advanced Info
Service Public Company Limited (AIS), Thailand’s premier digital network provider, and the Highland
Research and Development Institute (HRDI), a public institution committed to promoting socio-economic
development in the country’s mountainous regions. Together, they are working to improve the quality of
life for Thai communities by broadening access to essential infrastructure services in remote areas.
This collaboration combines the technological prowess of key players in the private sector as GULF and
AIS with local insights of HRDI to deliver comprehensive community-based solutions. The combined efforts
from all three will be delivering solar power-generated electricity to under-resourced communities and
installing solar-powered base stations to build out telecommunication systems that connect underserved
areas to digital platforms.
Under the banner of the "Green Energy, Green Network for THAIs" project, pilot programs are
launching in
two remote areas namely, Ban Dok Mai Sod community and Moko Poke community in Mae Usu subdistrict of Tha
Song Yang district, Tak province. The aim is to progressively extend this project to other remote areas
lacking critical life essentials like electricity and reliable telecommunications infrastructure. The
overarching goal of this initiative is to alleviate disparities, elevate the quality of life, and
catalyze sustainable economic growth within these communities.
Mr. Somchai Lertsuthiwong, CEO of Advanced Info Service PLC (AIS), elaborated, "As we strive to
become a
‘Cognitive Tech-Co’, AIS has dedicated ourselves to continuous advancements of robust digital
infrastructure. We are now well-equipped to collaborate with all sectors to foster a shared economic
growth, and building what we term the ‘Ecosystem Economy’. We firmly believe that digital network
technology is a crucial tool for driving economic progress and creating opportunities for people to
access new knowledge, which in turn will equip their lives in numerous meaningful ways amidst
ever-changing circumstances.
"Our work with GULF and HRDI reinforces AIS's commitment to sustainable business practices in all areas,
including the development of digital networks to drive community economies. We are breaking down
barriers to expand our network coverage, ensuring digital access for all Thais. By leveraging technology
and renewable energy sources, such as solar cells, we can efficiently manage communication systems and
deliver digital networks to targeted communities. This enables people in remote areas to communicate
conveniently and access knowledge and services that benefit the economy, society, education, healthcare,
and government welfare. AIS and its partners will continuously monitor changes and progress in each
community through ‘Social Impact Assessment’, evaluating the project's effectiveness in reducing social
inequality. This strategy ensures that the development is effective and truly sustainable, aligning with
the unique context and wisdom of each community which may vary from one area to another.
For instance, the Moko Poke community, one of the beneficiaries of solar power and digital communication
system provided by this project, will gain opportunities to acquire knowledge in coffee bean production
and enhance their marketing outreach. This aligns with the community leaders' vision to transition the
local economy’s reliance away from corn farming to coffee bean cultivation instead. By introducing
high-quality coffee beans to a broader market, the initiative aims to secure a stable and sustainable
income stream for the community."
Ms. Theerathiphisa Tawichpasoot, Chief Operating Officer of GULF, shared, “In 2023, GULF and its
subsidiary GULF1, initiated a mission to bring clean energy and connectivity to underserved
communities. The initiative began with pilot projects installing solar panels in three remote areas:
Baan Huai Nam Sai (Phitsanulok Province), Thung Nang Dam Island (Phang Nga Province), and Baan Dok
Mai Sod (Tak Province). GULF1 engineers not only installed the systems but also trained residents on
their use and maintenance, ensuring sustained practicality and long-term effectiveness of the
implementation. To address the communication challenges faced by these communities, GULF joined
forces with AIS, a leading telecom provider, to expand the project’s scope. This collaboration aims
to bridge the digital gap while simultaneously providing clean energy solutions. It strives to
mitigate disparities, bolster education and career development, and elevate public health services,
all in pursuit of a low-carbon future.
This year, the project expanded to include three new locations: Doi Moko Poke (Tak Province), Ban
Mae To La (Mae Hong Son Province), and Ban Phi Pan Nuea (Chiang Mai Province). In Doi Moko Poke, the
local economy had traditionally depended on corn farming, a practice that contributed to significant
deforestation and respiratory health issues from chemical use and PM2.5 particles. Working closely
with community leaders, GULF supports efforts to preserve indigenous forests and promote sustainable
coffee production. To this end, GULF partnered with the community to cultivate coffee as a
high-potential local commodity by building a greenhouse to streamline bean production and installing
a solar power system to enhance the quality of cleaning, sorting, and coloring processes. This
empowers more villagers to participate in the coffee value chain, thereby generating more income
opportunities and building a foundation for long-term economic resilience. Furthermore, in March
2024, GULF facilitated a knowledge exchange excursion for villagers from Doi Moko Poke to Chiang
Rai, equipping them with valuable skills in product development and market understanding. This
holistic strategy not only bolsters local economic empowerment but also seamlessly weaves a
philosophy of environmental stewardship into the community’s cultural fabric.”
Mr. Chavalit Chookajorn, Chairman of the Board of Directors at HRDI stated, "HRDI's important
mission
is to apply the knowledge from the Royal Projects to improve the well-being of highland communities
in the country, enabling them to use this knowledge in environmentally friendly occupations and
become self-reliant. Furthermore, HRDI actively facilitates access to basic infrastructure services
for our target communities by collaborating with various government and private organizations. The
Green Energy Green Network for THAIs project, a collaboration among GULF, AIS and ourselves, marks a
significant beginning in making sure highland residents are caught up with access to upgraded
essential services such as solar power and advanced communication. This project also paves the way
for further collaboration in areas such as healthcare, education, and vocational skill development,
as well as product marketing, all aimed at improving the quality of life for these communities. By
doing so, we not only uplift the community and stimulate the economy but also promote sustainable
environmental conservation and restoration."
Mr. Somchai concluded, "We firmly believe that the Green Energy Green Network for THAIs project,
Clean Energy Connecting Networks for Thais, will serve as an important model for other Thai
businesses to follow. It demonstrates how the diverse capabilities of different organizations can be
unified to tackle a common goal. By collaboratively addressing social challenges, reducing
inequality, and increasing access to new knowledge and basic infrastructure services, entities from
various industries can collectively bring forth a sustainable growth for individuals, communities,
the economy, and the environment."
About GULF
Gulf Energy Development Public Company Limited (GULF) is a holding company based in Thailand
specializing in energy and large-scale infrastructures development. Known for its prominence in
providing electricity for the country, GULF has successfully developed and managed a diverse portfolio
of power generation projects from both conventional and renewable energy sources. These include notable
investments in Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Oman, Germany, the UK, and the USA. As the company diversify its
ventures into data centers and digital businesses, GULF continues to leverage its extensive expertise
and operational acumen to ensure resource reliability and safe energy transition for the nation,
underscoring its commitment towards sustainable development and environmental stewardship.
About AIS
Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS), is a digital infrastructure service provider driving
Thailand's digital transformation through four business groups, serving a customer base of over 49.8
million. These include mobile phone services on the 5G network with the highest frequency band of 1460
MHz, catering to over 45 million users; broadband internet services under the AIS 3BB FIBRE3 with over
4.8 million users; corporate customer services; and digital service businesses. All of these are in line
with the vision of becoming a leading telecommunications and smart technology organization – Cognitive
Tech-Co, supporting the strength of the digital economy and elevating the quality of life for Thai
people. Meet us at www.ais.th (as of March 2024).
About HRDI
On 15 October 2005, the Government of Thailand passed the Royal Decree on Establishment of the Highland
Research and Development Institute (Public Organization), HRDI. The decree inaugurated HRDI as
responsible for the development of new processes and mechanisms to support and strengthen the Royal
Project’s research and development activities. The focus of HRDI lies on sustainable social and economic
development in Thai highlands working beyond the existing operating areas of the Royal Project. It
provides support to the Royal Project and extends its success throughout the country.
