PTT Exploration and Production (PTTEP) has put plans and preventive measures in place to ensure the safety of personnel and oil and gas production operations following the detection of drones near its petroleum production platforms in the Gulf of Thailand.
In a statement, the company said it has received strong support from the Thai Navy, with the plans including patrols and surveillance around the platforms to allow petroleum production to continue safely and without disruption.
Such operations are vital to maintaining national energy security and supporting the daily energy needs of the Thai people, according to the statement.
The move comes amid heightened security concerns, after the Thai Navy reported that unidentified drones had been detected flying near to several offshore oil production platforms.
The drones are suspected of belonging to Cambodia, which has been engaged in new rounds of deadly clashes with Thailand since December 7.
Thailand has imposed a ban on Thai-flagged vessels travelling from the Gulf of Thailand to Cambodia, in an effort to cut oil and power supplies.
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.
