Thailand raises up energy security

BANGKOK, September 16 (TNA) - The Thai government, through the Ministry of Energy, is preparing measures to prevent any energy disruption and to sustain national energy security in the long run, as Myanmar has announced to, again, shut down for maintenance its gas pipeline, serving Thailand, late this year. Thai Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal told journalists on Monday that he has also ordered his ministry's officials to report updates which may affect national energy security so that he can work out measures to relieve impacts in advance. The minister's remarks followed Myanmar's recent announcement that it will shut down its Yetagun gas field from December 25, 2013 to January 8, 2014, which will reduce its natural gas supply to Thailand by 1.1 billion cubic feet per day, after it suspended its gas supply to Thailand in April 2013 for the same reason. The new gas pipeline maintenance plan by the neighbouring country will lead to a drop in Thailand's electricity generation by about 3,000 megawatts consequently. Soonchai Kumnoonsate, Governor of the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), assessed that the decline in its power generation due to Myanmar's upcoming gas supply disruption should not have any impact on the national electricity supply. Soonchai explained that the period of the new gas suspension is in the winter and the New Year festival when national electricity demand is usually the lowest. However, Soonchai said, the EGAT is prepared to use fuel oil to generate electricity, instead of gas, at that time. (TNA)