The Pink Line Extension of the Bangkok monorail is set to open for public use with one month of free rides starting at the end of June 2025, as confirmed by officials and aimed at enhancing urban transit options.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Suriyat Chuenrungsee, announced the progress of the Pink Line extension, which covers the stretch from Si Ratch to Muang Thong Thani, measuring about three kilometers and funded with investments totaling 4.072 billion baht. By the end of January 2025, the project had reached 85.97% completion, outpacing the schedule by 2.17%.
The testing phase is expected to commence at the end of May 2025, with full service launching on July 19, 2025. The fare structure will allow passengers to travel between 15 to 22 baht and will participate in the 20-baht fare initiative set to start by September 2025.
The Mass Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand reported passenger usage figures for the main Pink Line segment from Khae Rai to Min Buri, stating over 2.1 million trips were made during January 2025, averaging around 68,000 daily transactions during the last week of the month. Despite lower numbers seen from February 1 to 17, 2025, when around 1 million trips were recorded, officials believe ridership will continue to rise.
The extension will help alleviate traffic congestion and environmental pollution on Chaeng Watthana Road, encouraging more public transportation use. The new line will connect to several important hubs, including Muang Thong Thani's Impact Arena and nearby universities, making it more accessible for events and daily commutes.
Meanwhile, Thai energy giant PTT Public Company Limited is undergoing strategic shifts and focusing on strengthening its hydrocarbon segment amid globally volatile economic conditions, as highlighted by CEO Dr. Kongkapan Intarajang.
PTT is aligning its strategy to focus on core businesses and is reevaluated its non-hydrocarbon plans. This move is driven by pressures from geopolitical issues, inflation, fluctuuating foreign exchange rates, and varying demand-supply conditions. PTT aims to leverage internal strengths to increase competitiveness, reduce costs, and promote operational excellence augmented by digital technology.
Despite witnessing challenges, Dr. Intarajang indicated positive signals for Thailand’s economy, projecting GDP growth at 2.9% for 2025 according to IMF forecasts, and PTT is set to invest approximately 25 billion baht this year alone. The primary focus will shift toward gas businesses and trading, including infrastructure investment for gas separation and pipelines.
Clarifying earlier speculations, PTT confirmed it is not pursuing any mergers with other petrochemical firms or refineries within its group, such as Thai Oil, IRPC, or PTTGC. Instead, the company is seeking new partnerships to strengthen its petrochemical and refining capacities, ensuring PTT retains majority stakes over its collaborations.
Within the scope of energy policy, PTT is mindful of governmental directions concerning electricity rates, expected to decrease by 40 satang from May to August this year due to gas price restructuring. The company supported gas prices, contributing to electricity cost reductions at around 28 billion baht last year, which is acknowledged as key during this transitional phase.
On another front, the global gold market has experienced fluctuations due to fears of President Donald Trump's administration's tariff policies. Gold prices dipped as trading opened on February 22, 2025, with local prices exceeding 91 million dong per tael. According to the SJC, gold bars closed at 89.4-91.7 million dong, reflecting a decrease of 600,000 dong from previous sessions.
Despite these fluctuations, global gold prices showcased resilience by remaining stable above $2,900 per ounce, driven by increasing demand for safe-haven assets amid geopolitical fears. The DXY index measuring the dollar’s performance against other currencies stood at 106.63 points, indicating marketplace anxieties as trade policies become stricter under Trump's administration.
Analysts, including those from Metals Focus, predict gold prices may rise up to $3,000 per ounce as geopolitical tensions spur safe-haven investments. Predictions denote the possibility of gold reaching even higher thresholds by year-end, driven by sustained demand from institutions and central banks, positioning gold as the preferred asset amid economic uncertainties.