Tevin Vongvanich, president and chief executive of PTT Plc, the national oil and gas conglomerate, says there is no call for worry as he hands over his corporate social responsibility (CSR) mission to a new top executive, Chansin Treenuchagron, on Aug 31.
In an interview with Post Today, he said the company is implementing a plan to set up social enterprises in each core business, from upstream to downstream, and other related business units.
"Although this mission is difficult and takes more time and effort than other activities under PTT's CSR, it is worth it to keep moving forward in the future," he said.
Mr Tevin, 59, said PTT's role has transformed over several decades from maintaining the country's energy security to shifting towards free trade in the current industry.
"PTT has more work to do, not only gaining benefits from its core business, but also sharing the benefits with stakeholders including clients, suppliers, creditors, shareholders and communities near its assets worldwide."
Various firms prefer CSR programmes, mainly in the form of donations, but PTT has a different way.
Mr Tevin said PTT has witnessed the country's economic growth for several decades, but the persistence of rural poverty and poor standards of living require solutions provided by social enterprises.
PTT's fuel retail business last year began several projects to support disabled people.
One of the activities was to recruit disabled employees to work at Cafe Amazon at PTT's petrol stations, with the first pilot project at Nakhon Pathom's Salaya station.
Moreover, all facilities in the station are designed to be accessible to disabled people. PTT also provides training courses to them.
"They will work in all positions at Amazon Cafe, from normal employees to baristas," Mr Tevin said.
Another project is to encourage coffee tree growers to go organic to serve Cafe Amazon and PTT, for which PTT has provided new techniques to enhance the productivity of coffee trees.
PTT recently joined hands with Thanyaphon Reception Home for Girls, a foundation to care for children and teenagers who have suffered mental and physical abuse.
Both parties will recruit those under the foundation's care to work at Jiffy convenience stores at PTT's petrol stations.
For PTT's gas business, the group is developing a water cooler for the liquefied natural gas (LNG) receiving terminal in Map Ta Phut to add value to agricultural production in the surrounding communities, such as temperate climate vegetables and fruit plantations.
Mr Tevin said preparations to spin off PTT's gas business are also a priority, as since last year energy policymakers have allowed new investors to enter the industry and import LNG.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and Gulf Energy Development Plc registered to be LNG importers with the Energy Regulatory Commission last month.
"The spin-off business will ease up gas operations in the country and will bring flexibility to the industry for both oil retailers and refineries," Mr Tevin said.
He was selected as PTT's chief executive in September 2015.
Mr Tevin said he learned a lot of things from his position over the last three years, which spanned a tough climate for the oil and gas industry when crude prices collapsed in 2014.
PTT was pressured to reduce operating costs and improve productivity in drilling, refining, trading, retail, electricity and petrochemicals.
Production costs for PTTEP during 2014-17 were pared from US$45 a barrel to $30.
Mr Tevin said another subsidiary, PTT Oil and Retailer, will be listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand next year.
