ID :
375158
Fri, 07/24/2015 - 12:05
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Thai PM mulls proposals of coal-fired power opponents

BANGKOK, July 24 (TNA) - Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has accepted proposals submitted by opponents of a new coal-fired power project in Krabi Province in the Thai South for consideration, denying that he has already decided to shelve the new coal-fired power plan. The prime minister told journalists on Friday, however, that the implementation of the new coal-fired power plant cannot start because it has not yet undergone public hearings and environmental and health impact assessment (EHIA). Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Energy Kurujit Nakornthap and Chairman of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) board, told reporters that the government has not yet ordered any delay of the project, awaiting for its EHIA. Kurujit revealed that the construction contract for the new coal-fired power plant was set to be signed within six months, after passing the impact assessment process. Kurujit cautioned that without a low-cost and clean coal-fired power plant, oil-fuelled power generating would raise electricity fees to be shouldered by people in the Thai South who also now face the risk of insufficient electricity, as the Thai-Malaysian Joint Development Area (JDA) is undergoing maintenance from July 21-25, which causes a gas supply disruption and the Chana Power Plant in the southern Songkhal Province must stop its 700-megawatt power generator consequently. (TNA)

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