Though hydropower is considered a form of clean energy, the construction and operation of hydropower dams can drastically destroy rivers, and alter people’s way of life forever. Therefore, assessment of the environmental impacts of specific hydropower projects is crucial to avoid what can be called ‘river grabbing’.
Category: Thailand
Shan and Karen CSOs strongly oppose Salween Dam
Villagers and CSOs from Shan State and Karen State on 10 March protested against the Mong Ton hydropower project during the first public consultation meeting held by the Australian consulting firm, the Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation (SMEC) in Taunggyi, Shan State.
Mekong Governments, Civil Society Reach Agreement on Environmental Impact Assessment Agenda
MPE, Prachatai In a ground-breaking agreement, government officials and civil society representatives from across the Mekong region established a working group to develop a regional public participation guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) this week in Hanoi, Vietnam. The Mekong Regional Technical Working Group for EIA brings together governments, civil society organizations (CSOs), and will […]
Baht building Mekong Region’s Largest Gas Power Plant
A subsidiary of Thailand’s partially state-owned petrochemical giant PTT, has teamed up with Japan’s Marubeni Corp and Myanmar’s EDEN Group to develop a 400 MW natural gas-fired power plant in Myanmar’s port city of Thanlyin.
Thailand’s PTT Building Major Refinery in Vietnam
The beautiful coastal city of Quy Nhon along Vietnam’s central coast will soon house the Greater Mekong Subregion’s largest oil refinery. Advanced by the Thailand’s PTT Plc in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s ARAMCO, the 400,000 barrel-per-day facility will be fed by Saudi Arabian crude.
EGAT and China reach for top with region’s tallest dam
A deep gorge near Mong Ton Township on the Salween River in Myanmar has long been sought after by engineers from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. It can accommodate Southeast Asia’s tallest dam and deliver the equivalent of 25 per cent of Thailand’s current electricity consumption.
Thailand harnessing the Salween River
About 130 km from the Salween River’s mouth is a site longtime identified as the final location suitable for hydropower development on what remains one of Asia’s longest un-dammed rivers.
Toyo-Thai Pursues Myanmar Coal Plant
In April, Thailand-based Toyo-Thai Corporation PCL signed a memorandum of agreement with the Myanmar’s Ministry of Electricity to construct a 1,280 megawatt coal-fired power plant near the coastal village of Inn Din in Mon State. One month later 5,000 people staged a protest near the seaside Inn Din project site in Ye Township. Public opposition has been mounting since the project was first announced last year.
EGAT to solve power plant resistance
Lieutenant General Anantaporn Kanjanarat, Minister of Energy visited and delivered energy policy to Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), has ordered EGAT to provide clear information on electric power generation, back up plan and the fuel proportion used to produce electricity. EGAT is also requested to provide electricity purchase plan from abroad to present to public and investors to have better understanding on current country electricity situation. This measure happened after anti-coal fired power plants movement in many areas. Thailand’s electricity backup still remains high, the government does not urgently need to invest in new power plants, said the anti-coal fired power plant group.
People affected by Thailand National Power Development Plan (PDP2015) call for scrapping of new plan
The approval of Thailand National Power Development Plan (PDP2015) 2015-2035 will lead to the construction of up to 57,459 megawatts of power plants in next 20 years by referring to country energy security. The examination of the plan has found several irregularities, especially the PDP2015 will lead to excessive and unnecessary construction of power plants and create long term burden for all Thai consumers, at 6.7 hundred billion Baht. Energy is a key factor for social development however energy security should be for the well-being of people, to improve quality of life, local economy. At the same time, it must also take into account the sustainability of the environment and resources for next generations.