New power plants should be built Thai South

BANGKOK, May 25 (TNA) - New power plants should be built in Thailand’s southern region while local people should also help conserve energy, according a report issued by Kasikorn Research Centre. The report, issued following a power blackout in all 14 southern provinces on Tuesday night, suggested that insufficient supply of power in the South could negatively affect the national economy. In order to prevent a similar, unfortunate incident from reoccurring, every concerned party should map out plans, said the report, adding that the government should boost power production as well as purchasing more electricity from the private sector and increasing electricity imports from neighbouring countries. The government should also explain to the native people where power plants are to be built that no environmental effects would happen, while the household sector have to consume electricity more efficiently, the report said. These suggestions could be carried out immediately because it would take between two-three years for a construction of new plant. Kasikorn Research Centre said demand for electricity in the South rose at the average of 6.8 per cent between 2009 to 2012 yearly due to sharp growth of the business sector in the region. The growth in power consumption ranked second only after the Northeastern region whose growth was at 8.1 per cent yearly. This is higher than an average annual growth of Thailand’s power consumption of 4.5 per cent, it said, adding that if nothing is done, the situation could become worsen in future. Currently, there are six electricity generating plants in the South and their combined production is about 2,200 megawatts, less than demand which at around 2,400 megawatts. Supply is required from the Central Plains as well as from neighbouring Malaysia. It is projected that demand for power in the region would rise to 3,000 megawatts in the next five years. (TNA)