Krabi power plant ‘will have little environmental impact’

THE COAL-FIRED power plant and coal transport pier planned for Krabi province will have only a small environmental impact on the area, according to some researchers. A study of possible effects from the power plant and Klong Rua coal transport pier was funded by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). The findings were disclosed at a press conference hosted by the Institute for Population and Social Research and Egat at Mahidol University on Monday.

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.

Coal power projects to be delayed

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) for 11 coal-fired power plants was signed between the Ministry of Electric Power (MOEP) and local and international private companies in 2010, and other new coal power projects are also in the planning stage.