Bangkok—Apr 26—PTT Dr.Prajya Phinyawat, President of PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) announced that on April 25, 1996 the Minister of Industry of Thailand, Mr.Chaiwat Sinsuwong has presided over the inauguration of the Bongkot Phase II. The completed development of Phase II will increase the daily contractual quantity of natural gas from 250 to 350 MMCF, with a maximum capacity of 420 MMCF. The development of the Bongkot Phase III is presently under study with the aim to increase the capacity of the field up to 630 MMCFD by mid- 1998. Bongkot is a joint venture between PTTEP, Total Exploration and Production Thailand, BG Thailand Limited and Statoil (Thailand) Limited, which hold 40, 30, 20 and 10 per cent interests respectively. This field has been put on stream in 1993. The increase of the field capacities reinforces the Bongkot's position as the second largest producer of gas in Thailand. End