Biomass power plants in deep South

BANGKOK, May 16 (TNA) – The Cabinet on Tuesday approved the setting up of three companies to run biomass power plants in three southern border provinces with an aim to increase electricity production capacity and to stimulate local economy. An advisor to the Prime Minister's Office Minister Nutthaporn Jatusripitak said the Cabinet meeting endorsed PEA ENCOM International, an affiliated company under the state-owned enterprise, Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) to develop biomass power plants in the three southernborder provinces under the Pracha Rat (public and private partnership) scheme with the investment budget of 1.5 billion baht. Under the plan, three affiliated companies will be set up in three provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat. The biomass power plant in Narathiwat will have electricity generation capacity of 9.9 megawatts while two others in Yala and Pattani will have generation capacity of 3 megawatts each. Most of the electricity produced will be sold the PEA. The project will create jobs for local people, reduce dependency on energy imports and cut greenhouse gas emission. - (TNA)