Anutin Denies Allegations Linking Sino-Thai to Solar Project
Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has publicly refuted media reports suggesting that Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction is being favored for a government solar energy initiative.
On October 28, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed media reports that linked the company Sino-Thai Engineering and Construction to a government project aimed at installing solar panels in one million households. According to Matichon Online, Anutin strongly criticized the reporting, labeling the claims as speculative and unfounded.
Anutin emphasized his personal stance against bid-rigging, stating that he has been a victim of such practices in the past and maintains a strict policy against them. He categorically denied that any specific company had been pre-selected or favored for the solar energy initiative, dismissing the allegations as 'sitting on a candle'—a Thai idiom for fabricating information.
For residents and observers, this incident highlights the ongoing scrutiny surrounding government procurement processes and the sensitivity of large-scale infrastructure projects. While the government has expressed interest in expanding solar energy access, the specific mechanisms for contractor selection remain a point of public and political debate. It remains to be confirmed how the government will proceed with the procurement process for the solar project and whether further transparency measures will be introduced to address public concerns regarding potential favoritism. No official contracts have been confirmed, and the administration maintains that the project will follow standard competitive bidding procedures.
