The governor of the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has disclosed that 18 companies have requested information on how to bid to expand Map Thaput deep sea port, which is projected to cost THB55.4 billion (US$1.7 billion).

The port is located in the planned Eastern Economic Corridor, a zone along the eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand, mapped out by the government as a focal point for infrastructure investment.

The interested companies include PTT Global, Italian-Thai Development and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding from Thailand; China Communication Construction, China Railway Construction and China Harbour Engineering; Boskalis International and Vopak LNG Holding from The Netherlands; and Tokyo Gas and Mitsui & Co from Japan.

IEAT plans to name the winning bidder for Map Thaput by February 2019, with construction due to be completed by 2024.