The landbridge idea is by no means new. At its narrowest point just south of Ranong, the Kra Isthmus is just 44 kilometres wide.
The landbridge was first proposed for defence reasons in the reign of King Narai, more than 330 years ago, and has been revived numerous times since then, but never carried out.
Former prime minister Chatichai Choonhavan floated the idea in 1989. The National Economic and Social Development Board completed a master plan for the project in 1992.
The project was revived by the Thaksin Shinawatra government, but shelved after the Asian Tsunami hit Thailand in 2004.
Earlier versions of the landbridge project called for the construction of infrastructure and supporting facilities such as a rail and land transport network and an oil pipeline from the Sichon District in Nakhon Si Thammarat to Tap Lamu in Phang Nga.
The project would also draw massive new investment, especially for tank farms, oil refining plants, and related petrochemical industries.
However, the earlier versions ran into heavy opposition from communities and environmentalists concerned about the heavy concentration of industrial and oil-related complexes on the Andaman and Gulf coasts.
On Monday, his first day in office as energy minister, Mr Pongsak – a close aide of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra – said the project will help enable the government to increase its planned strategic oil reserve to 90 days of daily consumption from 36 days at present.
Mr Pongsak said the new plan for the landbridge would allow overseas investors to participate.
In a related development, the new minister has assigned nation oil conglomerate PTT Plc to study the feasibility of expanding oil pipeline development to rural areas from the existing oil pipeline running from Map Ta Phut in Rayong and Si Racha to Bangkok’s two airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.