BANGKOK - PTT PCL, Thailand's top energy firm, said on Wednesday its sixth gas separation plant would start operations in early 2010 as planned after a court ruling in favour of the group.

The plant, which will produce liquefied petroleum gas, would help the country reduct imports and that would benefit olefins plants of its affiliate PTT Chemical, Vice President Auttapol Rerkpiboon told reporters.

PTT's comments came after a Thai court lifted the suspension of 11 of 76 projects at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate.

The market had been concerned that the suspension could affect PTT group's expansion plans, and that any delay of the start-up of the new gas separation plant would affect PTT's earnings next year. (Reporting by Khettiya Jittapong; editing by Alan Raybould)

Energy Thailand