Thailand is seeking a $200mn loan from the World Bank to pay for solar power and energy-efficiency improvements in public buildings and industrial zones.The government unveiled the plan a day after talks held during the 2026 IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, accordig to The Thaiger.
The proposals are designed to lower Thailand's energy bills over the long term, shore up energy security and make businesses more competitive. The government said the plans would also help people and industries cope with the move to a low-carbon economy. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas met World Bank Group President Ajay Banga on October 17, and the two discussed energy security and low-carbon cities.
Under the proposed arrangement, the money would pass through the Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM BANK), and the Finance Ministry would guarantee the loan.
The first phase would target Bangkok and the country's industrial estates. It would fund rooftop solar panels and upgraded electrical systems at schools, healthcare facilities and district offices, along with improvements to public lighting.
Energy service companies (ESCOs) would pay the upfront costs. Participating organisations would then repay them over time through long-term service fees, which would spare them large initial outlays.
The government also announced a deal between the Department of Climate Change and Environment and Krungthai Bank to draw up a Just Transition Roadmap for Thailand. The project has secured THB20mn (about $597,779) in initial funding. It will study financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), workers, farmers and communities as they adjust to cleaner technologies and shifting economic standards.
A separate agreement brings together the department, energy group PTT and Krungthai Bank (KBT) under the I-SPARK project, which will look at ways to draw public and private investment. The project will examine blended finance and the development of carbon credits, starting with a pilot scheme for low-carbon industries in Rayong province. It also aims to make Thailand's carbon market more transparent and to build confidence among participants.