Khun Ying Thongtip Ratanarat (, ; born 24 June 1942)Vita of Khunying Thonghip Ratanarat (Thai) is a Thai chemical engineer. She is a member of the board of directors of The Siam Fine Chemicals and of the Foundation for the Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT). From 1985 to 2005 she was the PTIT's executive director.
Life and work
After completing her studies in chemical engineering, Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat became a research assistant at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand. When she returned to Thailand, she worked as a lecturer in chemical engineering at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok. She was awarded an honorary doctorate in applied geophysics from Chiang Mai University in 2005. She also received an honorary PhD in chemical engineering from Kasetsart University for her work in 2013.KU News: มหาวิทยาลัยเกษตรศาสตร์ มอบปริญญากิตติมศักดิ์ แก่ผู้ทรงคุณวุฒิ ในพิธีพระราชทานปริญญาบัตร ประจำปี 2556 (Thai).
From 1985 to 2005 she was executive director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand. Subsequently, she worked as an advisor to the PTT Public Co., Ltd.Thailand Greenhouse Gas Management Organization (Public Organization). She is Member of the Board of Directors of The Siam Fine Chemicals.Company Profile: The Siam Fine Chemicals. She was judge of the Platts Global Energy Awards in 2004, 2011 and 2013.Platts, McGraw Hill Financial: The 2004 Global Energy Awards.Platts Global Energy Awards 2011: Recognizing the Stars of the Global Energy Industry She was the chairperson of the committee investigating the 2013 Rayong oil spill.Oil spill: Panel says PTTGC was not at fault. Bangkok Post, 15 August 2013. She is also a member of the national advisory board of the Chulabhorn Research Institute in BangkokNational Advisory Board of the Chulabhorn Research Institute. and director emeritus of the Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources.Officers and Directors of the Circum-Pacific Council for Energy and Mineral Resources.
Thongtip has sung with King Bhumibol Adulyadej's Au Saw Friday Band. She has been a lady-in-waiting to Queen Sirikit since 1973.
Development of biofuels
During her career she encouraged the local production of natural gas and focussed particularly on the development of biofuels, to overcome the volatility of the petroleum market. By 2002 she observed that ‘vulnerability is the rule of the game’ due to instability and tension in the Middle East and the related terrorism threats. In terms of self-reliance Europe and Asia were therefore following the U.S. in looking for deriving energy from other sources.Oil prices: Volatility expected to get worse. In 2004 she noted that Thailand needs a master plan to maximise the value of locally produced natural gas.Thailand to invest in 33 petrochemical projects. In 2012 she was quoted as saying: ‘We should get more serious about joint development of biofuels as, in the future, oil prices will definitely increase. It will also help strengthen the Asean Economic Community as we could all grow, blend, sell and consume by ourselves’.Thai energy advocates call for biofuels investment. She urged the government to encourage the use of E20 and E85 ethanol blended fuel among Thai motorists.Thai Government Urged To Promote Ethanol Use.
Family
She is a sister of Thongchat Hongladarom, the first governor of PTT, when it was still a state enterprise.Wasant Techawongtham: Oil spill panel fails to win over public trust. Bangkok Post, 30 August 2013.
She married in 1969 Chira Ratanarat, who is now the chief executive officer of The Siam Chemicals Public Company (SCC), and has with him three sons: Tisanu Ratanarat (born 1974), Sichart Ratanarat (born 1976) and Porapong Ratanarat (born 1982).นายจิระ รัตนะรัต: กงสุลกิตติมศักดิ์ราชอาณาจักรโมร็อกโกประจำประเทศไทย Honorary Consul of the Kingdom Morocco to the Kingdom of Thailand.
Publications
References
Further reading ยุพยง เหมะศิลปิน (Yupayong Hemasilpin) and เปรื่องบุญ จักกะพาก (Preungboon Chakkaphak): สัมภาษณ์พิเศษ คุณหญิง ทองทิพ รัตนะรัต ผู้อำนวยการสถาบันปิโตรเลียม แห่งประเทศไทย (Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat. Director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand). Kasetsart University, Bangkok (Thailand). Faculty of Engineering. December 1988 (on-line reference). . .