New coal-fired power plant in Thai South likely to be launched by 2022

NONTHABURI, THAILAND, August 21 (TNA) - The Electricity Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has announced that the construction of a new environmentally-friendly coal-fired power plant in Songkhla Province in the Thai Far South is expected to be completed by 2022. EGAT Assistant Governor Anuchart Palakawong Na Ayudhaya, who is in charge of local public relations and environmental affairs, told journalists of the schedule on Monday, saying that a panel of experts has already approved the environmental and health impact assessment report of the Thepha Power Plant in Thepha area. Anuchart noted that the construction of the new coal-fired power plant is one year behind its earlier schedule due to a thorough scrutiny and legal procedures, covering public hearings. Anuchart revealed that EGAT is acquiring a plot of 2,960-rai land, or about 4.74 square kilometers, as the site of the new Thepha Power Plant. According to the EGAT assistant governor, the new Thepha Power Plant is part of a national energy security plan with its gross total capacity of power production of about 1,100 megawatts from its two units of electricity generators, with the construction of the first unit now set to be completed by 2022 and the second one set about three years thereafter. Besides, there will be the construction of a wharf as part of the new coal-fired project for the off-loading of imported bituminous and subbituminous coal, used as the raw materials for its power production, and the construction of another 70-80 kilometer, 500-kilowatt power grid system that will then be linked with the Hat Yai High Voltage Grid System in nearby Sadao area. With its pulverized coal combustion and ultra-supercritical (USC) systems, the EGAT assistant governor acknowledged that the new thermal Thepha Power Plant is a most advanced and cleanest technological power station in the contemporary period that will be run 24 hours to serve rising power demand in the southern Thai region. (TNA)