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.

Laos targets green energy in new Asian economic bloc

Laos is one of the ten South-East Asian nations preparing to form a single market at the end of 2015. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Economic Community (AEC) is intended to boost regional growth by creating a common market that will enable the free flow of goods, services and skilled labour — including scientists — between member states.

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.

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.

Laos intends to set up two nuclear facilities with Rosatom assistance

power-technology.com Laos is in talks with Russian State atomic energy corporation Rosatom to set up nuclear power plants (NPPs) in the country. The Southeast Asian country, one of the global leaders for hydropower, intends to set up two nuclear power units of VVER-type, with a capacity of 1000MW-1200MW each. Laos is located at the centre […]