PTT has sought permission to install anti-drone systems on its offshore oil rigs in the Gulf of Thailand, following sightings of unidentified drones in the area, Thai Defence Minister Gen Nattaphon Narkphanit said today.
He said such measures would be permissible because the facilities are considered national strategic assets and the control of such equipment falls under the regulatory oversight of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC).
The request comes amid heightened security concerns, after the Thai Navy reported that unidentified drones were detected flying near several offshore oil production platforms.
Authorities are investigating whether the drones belong to a foreign party and whether they posed a hostile threat.
Gen Nattaphon said Thai security agencies have already assessed the situation and stressed that the government was not jumping to conclusions, but acting out of an abundance of caution.
He acknowledged, however, that maritime surveillance is more challenging than on land, due to the open nature of the seas and the large number of civilian vessels operating in the area.
According to the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC), more than 10,000 fishing boats operate at sea, many of which use their own drones, complicating efforts to identify suspicious unmanned aerial vehicles.
Authorities are now verifying whether the drones spotted in the Gulf were foreign or Thai-operated and whether there was any malicious intent. The defence minister stressed that no conclusion could yet be drawn regarding the drones’ origin(s).
The Thai Air Force has been assigned to oversee drone-related security, while the navy has implemented additional measures to monitor maritime threats vis-à-vis offshore installations.
The minister also confirmed that a Thai reconnaissance drone was shot down by Cambodian troops on December 18. The incident came to light after Cambodian netizens shared photos and videos showing the burning drone.
The Thai-MECC has previously called on fishermen, shipping operators and maritime businesses to assist in monitoring maritime safety. It urged the public to report any suspicious individuals, vessels or drones flying over oil platforms via its 24-hour hotlines 1465 and 02-888-1465, stressing that public cooperation is vital to safeguarding Thailand’s maritime security.
Meanwhile, Thailand has imposed a ban on Thai-flagged vessels travelling from the Gulf of Thailand to Cambodia, in a bid to cut oil and power supplies.
Authorities said the ban was implemented because the areas are considered to be at high-risk, as Cambodian troops have fired indiscriminately in the vicinity, posing a danger to vessels.
