Thailand to increase use of renewable energy

BANGKOK, July 17 (TNA) - Thailand will increase the use of renewable energy by 25 per cent over the next 10 year, from 2012-2021. Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal told journalists that the move was resolved at Tuesday's meeting of the National Energy Policy Board (NEPB), chaired by Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Pongsak acknowledged that the resolution is aimed at boosting Thailand's electricity generation with renewable energy from 4,276 megawatts to 13,927 megawatts during the 10-year period, comprising 1,800 megawatts with wind energy (instead of 1,200 megawatts), 3,000 megawatts with solar energy (instead of 2,000 megawatts), 4,800 megawatts with biomass (instead of 3,630 megawatts) and 3,600 megawatts with biogas (instead of 600 megawatts). Pongsak said Thailand's electricity generation with biogas from Napier grass is expected at 3,000 megawatts during the period, while that with garbage at 400 megawatts, instead of a previous target of 160 megawatts, and that with local hydropower will drop from 1,608 megawatts to 324 megawatts and new forms of energy will remain at 3 megawatts. According to the energy minister, the NEPB also resolved to raise the price of cooking gas by 0.50 baht per kilogram per month from September 2013 onwards, until the price reflects the cost of cooking gas at natural gas separation plants at 24.82 baht per kilogram next year. The prime minister, meanwhile, expressed her worries over increased global oil prices, resulting in rising petrol prices and people's costs of living and will discuss the matter with concerned authorities next week although the NEPB has approved assistance criteria for local low-income earners. (TNA)