The Royal Thai Navy will hold talks with China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co (CSOC) this month on the issue of submarine engines, according to Navy spokesman Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatphalin.

The navy will work with the CSOC to resolve the problem even if it meets a purchase contract stipulation specifying the use of MTU396 diesel engines from Germany to run the ship’s generator set, he said.

The spokesman said the Navy plans to hold talks with CSOC mid-month on the engine issue, though he declined to comment on possible solutions.

According to the contract, the engines for the submarine are to be supplied by Germany’s MTU, but the company has refused to sell the engines to China as they are designated as a military/defense item.

Navy Commander Adm Somprasong Nilsamai yesterday insisted that China should abide by the submarine purchase contract signed with the Navy and that no changes were made to the agreement.

A navy source said construction of the country’s first submarine had not stalled, but admitted the process could have been slowed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Delivery of the submarine is scheduled for 2024.

The source said the CSOC asked the Navy to modify the contract to replace the German engines with Chinese engines such as the MWM 620 which are of the same standard, but the Navy is honoring the original contract.

According to the source, MTU396 diesel engines are also made in China by an authorized manufacturer.

“But we don’t trust others, only [German-made] MTU engines,” the source said.