BANGKOK, May 27 (Reuters) - Thailand's largest energy firmPTT Pcl will look at buying domestic assets put up forsale by major oil and gas firms hit by declines in globalcommodity prices, Chief Executive Officer Tevin Vongvanich saidon Friday.
State-controlled PTT will follow the government policy onbuying domestic oil and gas assets to secure the country's longterm energy supply but will avoid building a monopoly in thesector, Tevin told reporters after a board meeting.
Earlier on Friday, energy minister Anantaporn Kanjanaratsaid PTT group should consider buying stakes in Arthit gas fieldfrom Chevron Corp and Bongkot offshore field from RoyalDutch Shell.
Chevron's Thai unit owns 16 percent of Arthit field, whilePTT unit, PTT Exploration and Production Pcl has an80 percent stake.
Chevron's Thai business has said it planned to lay off 800staff this year in Thailand as it looks to cut $500 million incosts.
The U.S. oil and gas major also put its Myanmar gas blockstakes worth an estimated $1.3 billion up for sale, bankingsources familiar with the matter said.
PTTEP has said it was keen to buy the 22.2 percent stake inBongkot field and another gas field in Myanmar.
PTT, which put its investments in coal under review after asharp decline in prices, is planning on keeping its coalbusiness in Indonesia on expectation that cost cuts will helpboost operations and compete with rivals, Tevin said.
But PTT could sell the coal operations, which have annualoutput of 8 million tonnes, if the company received a good offerfrom any buyer, Tevin said. (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; Editing by Keith Weir)