EGAT prepared for temporary halts of natural gas from Myanmar

BANGKOK, February 10 (TNA) - The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) says it has been prepared for handling the situation to ensure no power disruption in the country due to temporary suspensions of natural gas from Myanmar. EGAT Deputy Governor for Transmission System Suthon Boonprasong told journalists that EGAT has been notified by PTT Public Company Limited (PTT) that a natural gas source from Myanmar, Zawtika, has suspended its supply to Thailand during February 3-12 for its maintenance, while another Myanmar natural gas source, Yanada, will suspend its supply to Thailand for the same reason during March 25-April 2. Suthon acknowledged that EGAT has purchased more electricity from Lao PDR and switched to liquefied natural gas (LNG) to handle the situation during the temporary natural gas supply disruption from the Zawtika source, as 600 million cubic feet of natural gas supply has been halted daily and three power plants have temporarily suspended their power production during the ongoing 10-day period, while two others have changed to use imported LNG. The EGAT deputy governor insisted that preparations have also been made to handle the situation to ensure no power disruption as well when natural gas supply from the Yanada source will be suspended, during which 1,100 cubic feet of natural gas will be halted daily. According to the EGAT deputy governor, EGAT has closely coordinated with PTT to assure normal power service during the two periods. The EGAT deputy governor, however, sought public cooperation to save and reduce their power consumption, especially during the periods, for the sake of national power security in the long run. (TNA)