EGAT insists on building coal-fired power plants

GERMANY, October 31 (TNA) - The state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has stressed on a need to build new coal-fired power plants in the country. EGAT Deputy Governor Ratanachai Namwong, who supervises the development of power plants, insisted on the need on Friday, while leading a group of journalists to inspect coal and solar energy-powered electricity plants in Germany. Ratanachai pointed out that existing natural gas sources in the Gulf of Thailand are likely to be depleted over the next 6-7 years, while domestic demand for electricity has surged to more than 700 megawatts a year now. Ratanachai reiterated that it is, therefore, necessary for Thailand to now consider what power should be used for electricity production in the country to avert a feared energy crisis in the future. According to the EGAT deputy governor, EGAT believes that clean coal is the best alternative due to its low costs and long-term reserves. The EGAT deputy governor acknowledged that a plan has been prepared for Thailand to have new coal-fired electricity plants which should produce at least 4,000 megawatts of power, calling for proper public understanding that new, innovative technology can currently better protect the environment. The EGAT deputy governor noted that both Germany and Thailand now attach importance to energy security and the environment protection. The EGAT deputy governor told TNA that Germany has announced its plan to stop operations of all nuclear-powered electricity plants by 2022, replacing them with coal-powered ones, along with alternative energy-powered electricity plants. Currently, electricity fees in Germany stand at about 13 baht per unit, considered the most expensive in the world, while in Thailand, power fees cost about four baht per unit.(TNA)