Thai PTT says to return pipelines to state

BANGKOK, Dec 18 (Reuters) - PTT PCL (PTT.BK), Thailand's biggest energy firm, said on Tuesday it would return gas pipelines and land worth 15 billion baht ($446 million) to the government as ordered by a court verdict.

On Monday, Finance Minister Chalongphob Sussangkarn said the firm should pay pipeline rent retroactive to October 2001 after the court threw out a lawsuit trying to delist PTT, but said the company must hand back gas pipelines and land to the state. ($1=33.60 Baht) (Reporting by Trisanat Koongkhunthian, writing by Arada Therdthammakun; Editing by Michael Battye)