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Thab Sakae: opposition to power plants still alive in Prachuab
Mutita Chuachang
17 June 2007
News
For over the last ten years, Prachuab Kirikan's Thab Sakae district has been relatively peaceful, despite heated conflicts on coal-fired power projects in adjacent districts Ban Krood and Bo Nok.
Since 1995 local people of Bo Nok and Ban Krood have been organized and fought relentlessly against the construction of two huge coal-fired power plants in their neighborhood, until the projects were relocated to other provinces in 2003. One of their leaders Charoen Watakson was killed on June 21, 2004. The masterminds have yet to be punished. [http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=15312&postcount=2]
Initially, Thab Sakae was also slated for another large-scale coal-fired power plant to be developed by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), while the other two at Ban Krood and Bo Nok were IPPs (Independent Power Producers). The economic crisis in 1997 has put the project on the shelf ever since, until recently.
The Power Development Plan (PDP) 2007, the state's master plan for power supply during 2007-2021, has recently been approved, after a hearing session for the plan held at a hotel in Bangkok was disrupted by the local people from those three districts, and days later was moved to the Army Auditorium. Thab Sakae has been on the agenda again as the EGAT's site for a coal-fired power plant, as the PDP assigns the state utility to supply 2,800MW from coal.
The PDP plans for the power supply of 39,676.25MW in total, based on 5-6% growth rate of GDP all through the years; 7,885.25MW from plants under construction during 2007-2010, and 31,791MW from projects during 2011-2021, including 12,400MW by the EGAT, 12,600MW by IPPs, 1,700MW by SPPs, and 5,091MW imports from neighboring country. The first 3,200MW IPP bidding will be open in June this year.
Local people in Prachuab Kirikan are always on the alert with any news of coal-fired power development, especially when a source at the EGAT said in an interview on May 24, that the EGAT was considering 2-3 locations, and would finally choose only one place to build 4 units of 700MW coal-fired power stations, adding that Thab Sakae was the most likely as the EGAT had already purchased the land and had had some preparation for over 10 years.
With the local resistance being renewed and the well-known struggle history, however, the EGAT seems reluctant to pinpoint the location, claiming that the PDP 2007 does not locate the exact site. Nevertheless, a draft version of the PDP provided at the hearing session in February clearly identifies Thab Sakae as the location for 3 units of 700MW coal-fired power plants and Krabi for another 700MW plant.
That prompts the mercury to rise in Thab Sakae.
Sureerat Taechutrakun, leader of Thab Sakae conservation group, said that the EGAT had bought about 4,000 rai of land in Na Hukwang subdistrict 10 years ago, and the site is only 6 kilometers away from the site of Ban Krood power plant. According to a study on public participation in the project, the EGAT spent about 2 billion baht on the land purchase in which the National Counter Corruption Committee pointed out a corruption involving the EGAT's personnel.
"In 1997, the EGAT hired Prince of Songkla University to do the environmental impact assessment, but then the project was postponed. In 2006, it was said that the EGAT was restarting the project. Previously, people from Thab Sakae went to join Bo Nok and Ban Krood. Now we have organized ourselves since late last year," Sureerat said.
According to Sureerat, opponents to the project were mainly fisher folks and coconut farmers who fear the impacts to their livelihood as seen in the case of Mae Moh power plants in Lampang where villagers suffered and needed to resettle somewhere else.
"Clean coal doesn't exist. Just look at Mae Moh. They claim that it's cheap, because they never include the health and environmental impacts. Massive amount of coal is burned. It's impossible that there's no impact," she said.
"These local fisher folks have to depend on the sea, while the power plant needs seawater for cooling. If the project is full-scale developed according to the EGAT's advertisement, the 4,000MW plants would need 700,000 cubic meters of seawater everyday for 25 years. The fishers would just have to quit."
The conservation group has steadfastly shown its opposition, and then the EGAT decided not to give the district 150 million baht to support local development, as it had been questioned about its true purpose.
However, the Energy Ministry came up with an initiative to set up a community development fund, aiming to ease the conflict. Power plant operators are to be required to contribute to the fund: 1 satang/kilowatt-hour for gas-fired plants, and 2 satang/kilowatt-hour for coal-fired plants. A gas-fired power plant with a capacity of 700MW is expected to pay 50 million baht a year, and a coal-fired one 100 million baht a year. The fund will start on July 1, 2007 with the estimated inflow of 1.85 billion baht per year.
Nevertheless, the operators' contributions to the fund will be passed on to the Ft charge, resulting in an increased 1.2 satang/kilowatt-hour.
"The villagers don't care at all the 2 satang fund, as what they already have is much more than what the EGAT pledges to offer. The money will never compensate the health and livelihood of the villagers. Currently they can rely on themselves. If you want that bit of money, you'll become a beggar. No one will trade off. And finally the fund will be shouldered by rate payers in the form of the Ft charge," said Sureerat.
As yet there has been no rift between supporters and opponents of the Thab Sakae power project, typically happening in light of any large-scale development projects elsewhere. The group leader said that if the EGAT still insisted, the local opposition would be 'intensified', although Thab Sakae is plagued with local mafia.
Thab Sakae is just one of those examples of conflicts between local communities and the state-imposed development, with the principles of public participation enshrined in the 1997 Constitution never realized.
For the matter of energy, the unrealistic projection of power demand rigidly based on the high GDP growth rate, the excess reserve of electricity, and the insincere attempt to seek renewable sources of energy, are big questions. As long as those questions are not addressed, Thab Sakae is not the only volcano waiting to erupt.
Rayong people say no to coal-fired power plant
Khaosod website, June 11, 2007
People in Rayong came out to oppose a coal-fired power project, submitting petition to stop it.
At 10.00AM, June 10, 2007, Sutthi Atchasai, coordinator of Eastern People Network, with over 200 Rayong residents gathered to protest a petroleum refinery company IRPC plc of which the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) holds the majority share. The protesters opposed the construction of a 3,000MW coal-fired power plant, for fear of pollution as the site is near the urban area.
The protesters took to the Sukumvit road on 50 cars, heading to the town of Rayong while delivering speeches on the way on the impacts of the power plant. They placed their petition in front of the IRPC office.
Translated by Ponglert Pongwanan
Thailand's Energy And Money From Waste Water
By D. Arul Rajoo
KRABI, June 27 (Bernama) -- As demand for renewable energy continues to rise, a palm oil company in the southern Thai province of Krabi has been turning pollution into profit.
Asian Palm Oil Co Ltd, one of the biggest palm-oil producers in the province known more for its tourism products, is producing biogas from waste-water that can be used to produce electricity for own consumption and sold for commercial purposes.
Besides reducing pollution, the company is also saving on energy cost and making money by selling its extra energy.
Its managing director Nipon Udompholkul noted that the old method of open ponds to store and treat waste water from the palm oil mills gave rise to unpleasant odour or in another words air pollution.
"After four years, it has been proven that it's a reliable method and now adopted by at least three other mills," he told Bangkok-based media during a visit to the factory located 45km from Krabi town.
BIOGAS FROM WATER PROJECT
Nipon said the "Biogas from Waste-water in Palm Oil Mill" project carried out with the assistance of Thammasat University and sponsored by the National Energy Policy Office, is the first such project in Thailand.
It has managed to cut the pollution caused by the mills by as much as 80 percent.
Under the system, the waste-water treatment using Complete Stirred Tank Reactor (CSTR) is capable of reducing up to 90 percent of BOD and produces biogas which can fuel the boiler or the biogas engine to generate electricity.
Project consultant Prawat Leetanakul said the biogas not only produce energy after burning but takes away the unpleasant odour that the neighbourhood once had to bear.
Now, there are 40 such mills in the Kingdom, almost half of them in Krabi.
Asian Palm Oil had spent Bt40 million installing the system and hopes to recoup its investment within five years.
PROFIT FROM ELECTRICITY
For the whole of 2006, the company generated 2.197 million kWh and sold 1.739 million kWh to the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat). This generated an income of Bt4.9 million.
"Most of the power that we generate is used for our mill and the extra sold to Egat. The remaining water is used for watering the trees," said Prawat.
Prawat sees bright future for such venture in the Kingdom, saying that with more than three million hectares of oil palm land in the country that produces 5.6 ton of Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFb) and 3.36 million cubic metres of waste-water, there is a big potential for the undertaking.
Based on his rough estimate, the nation can produce 67.2 million cubic metres of biogas that can generate 134.4 million kWh of power.
Thailand's venture into renewable energy from palm oil can be credited to King Bhumipol Adulyadej who initiated the production of bio-diesel in 1985 and his majesty's innovation won the Gold Medal at Brussels Eurela 2001 in Belgium.
THERE ARE SETBACKS
But bio-diesel production from palm oil has its own limitations due to limited supply as only 800,000 metric tonnes of raw palm oil are produced a year, forcing the government to promote the expansion of oil palm plantation to more than four million hectares by 2023.
Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said Thailand, which last year spent Bt1.4 trillion on energy, with Bt500 billion to Bt600 billion spent on fuel oil, is pushing for more renewable energy from the abundant agricultural bi-products.
He said Thailand plans to replace 20 percent of vehicle fuel consumption with renewable energy such as bio-diesel and ethanol in the next five years.
Last year, 64.83 percent of electricity was generated using natural gas and only 5.37 percent from renewable energy, such as paddy husk and palm oil.
A survey carried out by the ministry shows 74 million litres of used vegetable oil is available each year in Thailand, out of which only 25 million litres are being used to produce bio-diesel.
If all the cooking oil is turned into bio-diesel, the country could save Bt1.6 billion in diesel imports.
The Thai Government is promoting the use of ethanol as gasoline supplement (Premium 95) up to 1 million liter/day.
Piyasvasti said cassava and sugarcane are being considered the most important crop for economical ethanol production while oil palm is important for bio-diesel production.
"And this agricultural bi-products are fetching good prices in the market providing extra income for farmers," he said.
Now, officials are looking at such technology for other products like tapioca starch, frozen seafood, concentrated latex and municipal waste-water, as well as turning plastic waste into crude oil.
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=269835
Related post that describes the production of fuel from latex in the past:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=7498&postcount=5
http://www.bangkokpost.com/040907_front.jpg
[Photo: Bangkok Post - All fired up about power Thousands of villagers block part of the Rayong-Chanthaburi road during their protest yesterday against the planned construction of a coal-fired power plant in Rayong's Muang District. — JERDSAK SAENGTHONGCHAROEN]
IRPC to proceed with planned power plant
IRPC Plc vows to proceed with its planned coal-fired power plants despite the protests from villagers in Rayong.
IRPC chief executive officer Piti Yimprasert said in a telephone interview that the investment would be cancelled only if the plan does not win the environment impact assessment from the National Environment Board.
About 10,000 protesters on Monday gathered in front of IRPC's facility in Rayong, to voice their opposition against the company's planned coal-fired power plant. In the morning, there were about 5,000.
The protesters are from villages in the Muang district. Protest leaders include Suthi Atchasai, Sathit Pitudecha, Thara Pitudecha, Thuanthon Khammeesee and Virasak Viraphan.
It was reported that oil trucks of the company blocked the entry to the premise, guarded by a number of police officers.
The protesters were told to stay in the provided area and participants including members of the press are required to show their ID cards.
- The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/03/business/business_30047556.php
.....
"This protest could have a hidden agenda. IRPC is not the only company that bought bidding documents for investment in coal-fired power plants, so why are other buyers not facing protests," Piti said.
"If this is the real voice of the people in Rayong, we will stop it. But how would we know if this is really what they think?"
About 5,000 protesters gathered in front of IRPC's facility yesterday morning to voice their opposition to the plants. The number escalated to more than 10,000 later.
The protesters were from villages in Muang district. The protest was led by Piya Pitutecha, governor of the Rayong Provincial Administrative Organisation.
Protester Sutthi Atchasai said the power plants would be built "dangerously close" to surrounding communities.
"People in Rayong already suffer from enough pollution. If these power plants are allowed to be built, we won't be able to stand it because it would encourage other companies to come and build plants here too, just like what happened to Map Ta Phut," Sutthi said.
It was reported that company oil trucks had blocked the entry to the facility, which was guarded by a number of police officers. The protesters were told to stay in the provided area and participants including members of the press were required to show their ID cards.
IRPC is among a number of companies which have bought more than 60 bidding envelopes from the Energy Ministry for the generating of 3,200 megawatts under the independent power producer programme. The results of the bidding will be known in December.
The power generators are opting to use a variety of fuels including coal and natural gas. Coal has been considered the fuel that emits the highest pollution level.
Piti said that IRPC was - like most of the bidders for coal-fired power plants - waiting for EIA approval from the National Environment Board.
"We will proceed with the bidding. In terms of business, we have a high chance to win as we have the location and the pier. But if we fail to win the EIA, the project will be cancelled," he said.
He explained that the company opted to fire the power plant with coal because it is the cheapest fuel.
Chalida Ekvitthayavechnukul
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/04/national/national_30047644.php
It also looks as if EGAT is close to a decision on building its own coal power station. One imagines that Prachuap Khiri Khan Province must still be one of the main contenders for that dubious honor, in spite of numerous protests in the province against such plans in the past:
Egat moves to build coal-fired plant
Published on September 5, 2007
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) expects to finalise the site for its new coal-fired power plant by the end of this year and plans to raise acceptance from nearby communities.
..........
Egat governor Kraisri Karnasuta said on the sidelines of the Power-Gen seminar yesterday that the coal-fired plant would be equipped with technology that reduces toxic emissions by 99 per cent and that only high-quality coal from Australia and Indonesia would be used.
"Raising public participation is an important element and it is part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA)," he said. "The best technology and high-quality fuel will raise the plant's development cost, but it's necessary to assure the public of the zero environmental impact. We can live together."
Egat will proceed with the construction of two coal-fired plants on a single site that will have a capacity of 800 megawatts each. Each will take seven years to construct. Under the power development plan, Egat will build four coal-fired plants.
His comments came after IRPC faced protests from Rayong residents over its plan to build a coal-fired plant in the province. At press time, about 4,000 residents were still gathered in front of its facility, with 10 tents put up along Sukhumvit Road.
In regard to the protests against IRPC's plan, Kraisri said it was necessary to give as much information as possible on the new technology to the public. He believes that the public would then welcome the investment.
IRPC adviser Banchorn Chavansil yesterday called a press conference in Rayong, saying that IRPC would not give in to the protesters' demands.
"They did not demand a negotiation but an ultimatum. The only thing they want is to have [CEO] Piti Yimprasert confirm that IRPC will not join the power-generating bidding. IRPC considers that this is unfair to the company, which acts on honesty and in line with the government's policy. We cannot honour the ultimatum despite our concerns for the Rayong people who joined the protest," Banchorn said.
IRPC's facility in Rayong has been blocked by over 10,000 protesters since Monday.
They have demanded the company drop its plan to join the independent power producer (IPP) bidding whereby private generators are welcomed to bid to generate 3,200 megawatts.
Banchorn said the IPP bidding was organised by the government and it would only withdraw from the bidding if the project does not meet environmental standards and fails to win acceptance from Rayong people.
"It's groundless to say we have prepared a site for the plant. To date, it's not yet final whether we will join the bidding. If we join, it's uncertain that we would win. It's impossible to invest in advance without a good reason," Banchorn said.
Protesters also demanded the removal of Rayong's governor for his failure to show up at the scene.
Business Reporters
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/05/national/national_30047770.php
http://www.bangkokpost.com/040907_front.jpg
[Photo: Bangkok Post - All fired up about power Thousands of villagers block part of the Rayong-Chanthaburi road during their protest yesterday against the planned construction of a coal-fired power plant in Rayong's Muang District. — JERDSAK SAENGTHONGCHAROEN]
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/03/business/business_30047556.php
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/04/national/national_30047644.php
It also looks as if EGAT is close to a decision on building its own coal power station. One imagines that Prachuap Khiri Khan Province must still be one of the main contenders for that dubious honor, in spite of numerous protests in the province against such plans in the past:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/05/national/national_30047770.php
Villagers protest power plant construction
(BangkokPost.com) - About 10,000 people gathered at Samut Songkhram district office on Wednesday morning to protest against the construction of a coal-fired power plant in the province.
The power plant is to be built on a beach side by companies that win the bid.
On Wednesday, industrial conglomerate Loxley, global investment bank Babcock and Brown came to introduce the project to villagers and were greeted by angry protesters.
In October. the companies are to submit bids to the Energy Ministry to become independent power producers (IPPs), and the result will be announced about December.
The winners will receive 25-year power-purchase agreements from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, and the strong demand for electricity means the contracts will carry a low risk.
May soon expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=121377
This looks like more of a tactical retreat than a complete surrender:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/040907_front.jpg
[Photo: Bangkok Post - All fired up about power Thousands of villagers block part of the Rayong-Chanthaburi road during their protest yesterday against the planned construction of a coal-fired power plant in Rayong's Muang District. — JERDSAK SAENGTHONGCHAROEN]
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/03/business/business_30047556.php
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/04/national/national_30047644.php
It also looks as if EGAT is close to a decision on building its own coal power station. One imagines that Prachuap Khiri Khan Province must still be one of the main contenders for that dubious honor, in spite of numerous protests in the province against such plans in the past:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/05/national/national_30047770.php
IRPC decides not to bid IPP project
IRPC decides not to participate in the bidding for the Independent Power Producer project due to strong protest from the villagers in Rayong province.
Piti Yimprasert, IRPC's chief executive officer, said the company decided not to participate in IPP project in which the interested companies can submit the plan on 19 Oct. Piti said he had discussed with the investment partners and they decided not to take part because it would take some time before an environmental standard (EDA) will be approved.
IRPC earlier faced strong protest from the people in Rayong province where the company planned to construct the coal-fired power plant.
Somluck Srimalee
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/06/business/business_30047974.php
This looks like more of a tactical retreat than a complete surrender:
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/09/06/business/business_30047974.php
06 September 2007
IRPC to construct gas power plant instead of coal one
IRPC Public Company Limited announces that it will not participate in the bidding process of the construction of a coal power plant on October 19th, adding that the company will build a gas power plant with the capacity of 200 megawatts instead.
Today (September 6th), the IRPC President's Advisor, Gen. Banchorn Chavalasilp (บัญชร ชวาลศิลป์), held a press conference on the bidding of the coal power plant construction project, saying that IRPC will not participate in the bidding as local people disagree with the construction. Meanwhile, IRPC’s major share holder, PTT Public Company Limited, has no policy to support the power plant construction, said PTT President Piti Limprasert (ปิติ ลิ้มประเสริฐ).
Gen. Banchorn says further that it is still too early to figure how much IRPC will lose from its absence from the bidding process. He also affirms future conflicts between the company’s employees and the protesters against the power plant construction might not take place.
According to the advisor, IRPC has a plan to construct a 200-megawatt gas power plant. The construction project has been approved by the company’s board and the investment has been prepared. The gas power plant, which is friendly to the environment, is expected to be built at the same location as the controversial one.
Reporter : RTI-Reporter04
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255009060051
Related thread on a new EGCO power station on Phuket, that will burn the island's garbage mountain:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2716
The TV ad described (below) is indeed a very bad example of misleading advertising!:
POWER of propaganda
Rights groups up in arms over 'misleading' Egco ad
Published on October 7, 2007
Consumer rights groups and villagers are accusing Electricity Generating Plc, one of the country's largest power companies, of acting irresponsibly when it launched a commercial two months ago with deceptive BBC wildlife footage inserted.
Sairung Thongplon of the Federation of Thai Consumer Organisations (FTCO) said the use of several BBC nature scenes in this TV publicity campaign is unethical as they mislead the general public into believing that all Egco power plants are perfectly environmentally friendly.
The whole campaign was inappropriate as it provided the public with one-sided information on environmentally-sensitive undertakings, and this could backfire in the near future, FTCO said.
Egco operates 14 power plants with dozens more to be built in the coming decade, according to the national power generation plan.
By launching the controversial ad, Egco is understood to be pinning its hopes on building new groups of supporters in communities where new power plants are being planned.
A unilateral campaign, rather than more comprehensive information, could divide affected communities into opposing camps as in the case of a power plant planned for Bo Nok, Prachuap Kiri Khan, seven years ago.
Following serious and violent conflicts within the affected communities, the Bor Nok project was shelved two years ago and could be moved to Saraburi. At first sight, the controversial Egco TV spot depicts a beautiful sky-blue seashore with a towering gas turbine of a power plant in the background.
It then shows a teacher leading a group of kindergarten children to visit the plant, the Khanom Power Plant in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The visitors and ad viewers were all impressed by the beautiful scenery and the well-being of three species of wildlife living nearby - a dozen ling samae (crab-eating macaques), sea eagles and blue dolphins.
Critics said the three species in the footage were not genuine inhabitants of the communities, just material inserted from previously broadcast BBC wildlife features.
"This ad is telling the audience about an actual, working power plant, so Egco should at least use real images of animals in the area, rather than unrelated materials from somewhere else," said Kanit Phongnawin from the eastern province of Rayong where environmental concern is a major community issue due to the presence of polluting petrochemical and other industrial plants.
"It's shameful, insincere and unacceptable."
However, Wilawan Chokekhanchitchai of Egco's communications unit defended the use of unrelated clips.
"We need remarkable shots in such a commercial to make a strong impression on the viewers watching it for 60 seconds," he said.
Copywriter Jarunan Sapsarasin said time limits did not allow producers to shoot the real thing so BBC footage was spliced in.
Wilaiwan said the footage was not fiction.
"We used the BBC footage because we couldn't spend months to film shots like those in the BBC features, but the fact is that the area has all the three species."
FTCO's Sairung said Egco's assertion in the publicity blitz is overblown, given that several of its power plants have been facing strong opposition from local communities these days.
Kanit said that in Rayong, where Egco has a plant, pollution and other environmental problems have surfaced.
"How will the company clarify the environmental and health consequences in our communities? Worse is that more power plants will be built here as if they aren't aware that there are large communities around here," he said.
The experience of Manas Srisombat, a resident of Saraburi, was similar to Kanit's. He said two power plants together with other factories in his province had caused massive pollution in the Pasak River.
Prachuap Khiri Khan villager Phornphiphat Wat-aksorn said profitable power companies often pay off some influential local people so they support certain projects.
Then, there would be clashes with the rest of the community members who do not want those projects in their neighbourhood.
"I believe that this ad is part of propaganda to mislead the public by resorting to one-sided information," Phornphiphat said.
Phornphiphat is a leader of the local opposition to the Bo Nok power plant project.
Sairung said the Egco ad is aimed at swaying public and community opinion at this juncture as potential investors under the independent power-producer scheme are about to enter the stage of site selection, initial public hearings and environmental impact assessments as required by law.
"From past experience, what will happen next is a split in the communities. Those who support a given project and those against it will fight one another. And we cannot rule out violence as it has happened before," she said.
The government should come up with rules and conditions to regulate misleading ads or it could sponsor the opposing camp to air its views equally, she said.
However, Parames Ratchaiboon, honourable president of the Advertising Association of Thailand, said if the ad is not factual, the Consumer Protection Board should take action against it.
Kamol Sukin
The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/10/07/headlines/headlines_30051601.php
See previous recent posts in this thread for evidence that the government will attempt to cope with such opposition by exporting some of the problem to Laos:
http://www.prachatai.com/english/news.php?id=324
No more power plants, say Ratchaburi people
Prachatai
19 October 2007
News
On Oct 18, about 500 local people from various districts of Ratchaburi province visited the Energy Ministry to submit to the permanent secretary their petition to order the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to scrap its affiliated companies' planned bids to build new power plants in their neighbourhood.
They said that their province already houses 6 power plants with 3 more planned. Their concerns include pollution that will affect agricultural crops and their respiratory health.
The local people were prevented from going inside the ministry compound as the police closed the main gate. They were upset and opened the gate themselves. Later the ministry's deputy permanent secretary Norkun Sitthipong came out to meet the protesters.
Norkun told the protesters that there are three steps that must be followed prior to approving the construction of a new power plant; a project developer must conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA), hold public hearings, and gather comments from independent environmental and health organizations including academic institutes.
He said that a power plant would never be built if local people are opposed to it, even if the EIA report has been approved. And on Oct 28, the Natural Resources Ministry will hold a meeting among relevant agencies to discuss the details of organizing public hearings and gathering comments from independent organizations on environment and health, he said.
The state utility EGAT holds shares in the three companies that plan to build new power plants in the province including the Electricity Generating Co (EGCO) (25%), and Ratchaburi Holding Plc (45%) which owns Tri-energy. The latter two are already running natural gas-fired power plants in the province, which the local people have complained pollute the environment and affect their crop yields as well as cause respiratory problems among residents.
Translated by Ponglert Pongwanan
Source: No more power plants, say Ratchaburi people (http://www.prachatai.com/05web/th/home/page2.php?mod=mod_ptcms&ContentID=9970&SystemModuleKey=HilightNews&System_Session_Language=Thai)
15 contenders for new licences in latest IPP bidding round
YUTHANA PRAIWAN
Fifteen companies have submitted proposals in the second round of independent power producer (IPP) bidding, which is closed yesterday.
The proposals represent electricity generating capacity totalling 17,000 megawatts (MW). The power would be sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) for the national transmission grid.
The bidders will be competing to supply a total of 3,200 MW to Egat. The first round of bidding in 1994 attracted 89 participants representing total capacity of 39,000 MW, against a requirement at the time of 5,943 MW.
Most of the bidders this time around are electricity generating companies that also won licences in the first round, according to Viraphol Jirapraditkul, the director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO).
Egat's two large SET-listed affiliates, Egco Group and Ratchaburi Holding, participated in the bidding, along with Glow Group, Thai Oil Plc, and Hemaraj Land and Development Plc. All had taken part in the 1994 exercise.Newcomers seeking to diversify their businesses into the emerging energy sector are Amata Corporation, Loxley, Italian-Thai Development Plc and Gateway Industrial Park Plc.
Also noteworthy was the presence of Japanese industrial firms including Toyota, Sumitomo and Kansai Electric.
No details were given about proposed fuel types or locations of the new IPP plants, since the EPPO has yet to study the details in depth.
The additional electricity output would be supplied to Egat starting between 2012 and 2014.
Mr Viraphol said the selection criteria would focus on advanced generation technology, appropriate budgets, as well as environmental impact assessment approval.
IRPC Plc, formerly known as Thai Petrochemical Industry, failed to submit its proposal yesterday, as its initial coal-fired power plant plan encountered strong protests from anti-coal activists and residents of the Rayong site where it was to be located.
IRPC had hoped to develop a power plant to support its petrochemical complex in the province.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/Business/20Oct2007_biz34.php
Wisarut
21-10-07, 08:34 PM
Now, Siam Thurajikij has CONDMEND the activities of Energy NGOs as the ones who SABOTAGE the National Energy Policy ... Deserved to be on Trails as "Traitors" to the Motherland. :eek:
http://www.siamturakij.com/home/news/display_news.php?news_id=7948
Khun Kraisiri seems to be working with an extremely broad definition of 'clean energy':
Thailand may face electricity shortage in future
PATTAYA, Nov 4 (TNA) - Protests at the planned construction sites of several new electrical power generating plants in Thailand may cause the country to experience an electricity shortage as the demand the power is rising 1,400-1,600 MW annually, said outgoing Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) governor Kraisri Karnasutra on Sunday.
Mr. Kraisri, who will retire from his post on November 12, said at his farewell party that Thailand will encounter an electricity shortage without added generation plants being built.
Thailand has agreed to buy 7,000 MW of electricity from Laos and also has agreed in principle buying power from Cambodia, Myanmar, China and Malaysia.
However, Mr. Kraisri said the purchase agreements could stall if there is an international dispute between Thailand and the contracted countries. Most importantly, new employment will not be seen if construction of a new electricity plant does not proceed due to protests, while Thailand will have to pay money to its neighbouring countries nonetheless.
Construction of electricity plants in remote areas also causes loss of electricity, he said, due to losses encountered in long distance power transmission.
"Presently, coal, nuclear and natural gas-powered electricity plants are considered clean fuel, Mr. Kraisri said, "And the Energy Ministry has established a special fund to develop the areas around electricity plants.
"These areas will gain while the public will have sufficient electricity for use." (TNA) - E111
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=1166
Thousands rally outside Energy Ministry
(BangkokPost.com) – Throngs of protesters of the coal-fired power plant project in Bang Pakong traveled from Chanchoengsao province Tuesday morning to rally outside the Energy Ministry.
A group of more than 3,000 angry protesters hope to pressure the ministry into calling off the planned construction of the Bang Pakong power plant which they insisted would have a drastic effect on the environment. The group also stated that the ministry should not allow the project to win approval from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA), an international campaigning organisation committed to investigating and exposing environmental crime.
On top of the Bang Pakong protesters, today’s major gathering will also bring together protesters of other power plants including those in Ratchaburi, Saraburi, Rayong, Hin Krut and Bo Nok.
The group will request a meeting with Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand and insist on an answer by today. The rally-goers have already threatened road blocks in several areas if the ministry fails to address their demands.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=123763
Four companies awarded IPP contracts
Siam Energy Co Ltd, Power Generation Supply Co Ltd,G Gheco-One Co Ltd, and National Power Supply have won the Energy Ministry's bid to build power plants with combined capacity of 4,400 megawatts.
Deputy Prime Minister Kosit Panpiemras said after chairing the National Energy Policy Committee's meeting on Friday that the bidders won with the offered electricty price range between Bt2.135-Bt2.648 per unit.
All the output would be sold to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
The first two companies are units of Japan's sole wholesale power utility Electric Power Development Co or J-Power. Gheco-One is a unit of Glow Energy and National Power Supply is owned by Advance Agro Plc.
The first two will build coal-fired power plants while the other two will use natural gas as fuel.
The Energy Ministry originally targeted to award the generating of only 3,200MW.
- The Nation
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/12/07/business/business_30058517.php
EGAT postpones coal-fired power plant another year
BANGKOK, Dec 8 (TNA) - Concern over protests by opponents of a plan to build a coal-fired power plant and inability to find a suitable location for the facility have forced the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to postpone construction by another year, according to Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amaranand.
Construction of the plant with total production capacity of 2,800 megawatts was originally due to be completed in 2014, with full capacity to be achieved three years later.
But EGAT must still educate the public if it wants to achieve public acceptance at the site where the plant is to be built to fully understand and accept that a coal-fired electricity generation plant is possible without creating pollution, Mr. Piyasvasti said, adding that he believed such a plant could be built in Thailand because a fund will be established for the vicinity of the plant to sell electricity to local residents at two satang per unit.
Coal-fired power plants have lower operating costs than gas-powered electricity plants, he said, and it would help Thailand reduce its dependence on natural gas to produce electric power by as much as 70 per cent.
Most importantly, Thailand's coal reserves are much more than its natural gas supply, and it is also much cheaper, said Mr. Piyasvasti.
However, if the plant cannot be built, EGAT plans to buy coal from Cambodia and electric power from Laos to cope with the rising demand for electricity in Thailand, he said.
EGAT sources said the most appropriate site for the construction of a coal-powered electricity plant would be in the southern coastal provinces such as Prachuap Khiri Khan or Krabi.
But people in both areas have opposed the project in the pas due to concerns regarding pollution. (TNA)-E111
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=1703
Cabinet approves on developing oil shale in northern Thailand
BANGKOK, Dec 11 (TNA) -- The cabinet today gave the green light for a development of an oil shale area in a village of Mae Sot district of Tak province bordering Myanmar, said an assistant to government spokesman.
In a press conference after weekly cabinet, Colonel Prachasan Chanasongkhram said the cabinet approved the proposal of Energy Ministry.
The development of oil shale will cover a total area of 104 sq. kilometers with reserves of oil shale amounting 390 million tons.
Both the Mineral Fuels Department and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand are assigned to help in laying development plans , confirm reserves amount and the quality.
Exploration of oil shale began in the northern part of Thailand in 1935. To date, 21,000 million tons of oil shale has been identified with reserves of about 6,700 million barrels. Recoverable reserves are estimated about 2,400 million barrels.
The kerosene content in Thai oil shale is relatively low, below 10 per cent on the average. Although several processes for shale oil extraction have been developed, mainly in the US, at the present level of oil prices the exploitation of shale oil in Thailand would not be competitive. However, the oil shale reserves represent a large domestic source of energy for the future. (TNA) – E111
General News : Last Update : 17:56:44 11 December 2550 (GMT+7:00)
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=1748
See also this thread on misreporting of this find:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showpost.php?p=20457&postcount=52
Thailand has signed an MOU with Laos to buy more electricity produced by Hydro and Lignite:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2013
Energy Ministry to raise alternate energy target
(BangkokPost.com) – The Energy Ministry has revealed plans to increase its production target of alternative energy to 8 million litres per day.
Kurijit Nakorntap, deputy permanent secretary to the Energy Ministry, said the hike in production from 6 million litres per day will begin next year.
It is hoped the move will help boost the consumption of alternative energy from 4 percent to about 8 percent of the overall rate of energy consumption.
Farmers are encouraged to breed livestock as animal faeces, especially pig waste, is regarded as one of the main ingredients for alternative energy production.
The Board of Investment (BOI) will also offer full support to small manufacturers of alternative energy, in line with government policies.
Link may expire:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=124361
I have a great deal of suspicion of projects like the following. My information on tapioca farming is that it tends to result in empoverished soils that are good for little else after a few years of growing the same crop on the same field. Of course, the government's agriculture will always tell you that they encourage rotation, but the reality is that most farmers tend to monocrop until a real problem sets in. Where's the 'sufficiency' in that?:
11 December 2007
New government should promote tapioca farming
The Thai Tapioca Trade Association President, Mr. Chen Wongboonsin(เจน วงศ์บุญสิน), calls for the next government to help promote tapioca farming, in a bid to raise its output to five million tons. The crops will be used for producing ethanol, and about three to four ethanol factories will be set up next year.
Mr. Chen says 22.6 million tons of tapioca will be produced next year, but the amount may be inadequate, as the demand in the market is expected to be around 30 million tons. Thus, Mr. Chen would like the new government to help encourage farmers to grow more tapioca to meet the rising demand, as prices of conventional fuels continue to increase. He says lower output of tapioca would directly impact the supply of animal feeds as well.
http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255012110018
See also article on oilshale in Tak:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2963
Oil find in Phetchabun:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2881
Government requests for Chinese assistance with nuclear power:
http://www.angkor.com/2bangkok/2bangkok/forum/showthread.php?t=2943
PM Samak is known to favor the building of nuclear power stations. There seems to be an almost indecent haste about EGCO's statement. I'm left wondering if EGCO has been politically-funding the People Power Party (PPP) and PM Samak in order to expedite its power station interests:
EGCO urges both coal-fired and nuclear-power plants
BANGKOK, Feb 21 (TNA) – Concened with high and rising production costs for electricity and the dwindling supplies of local natural gas used to produce power, Thailand's Egco Group is urging the new government to build coal- and nuclear-powered electricity plants to meet national needs.
Visit Akaravinak, president of Egco Group, Thailand's first independent power producer, said the kingdom currently uses locally-supplied natural gas for 70 per cent of its gas-powered electricity production, but local supplies are shrinking and becoming more expensive.
He said Thailand's energy minister should act, and build coal and nuclear-powered electricity plants despite protests from the public as such sources could bring down the local production costs as well as the prices paid by consumers.
The previous government planned to construct a 4,000-megawatt (MW) nuclear-power electricity plant and conducted a feasibility study, Mr. Visit said. The government should implement the project under study, he said, noting that the Egco Group plans to provide knowledge about nuclear-powered electricity plants to its staff.
Currently, the Egco Group is jointly investing with the state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and two other Thai firms in building 3,600 MW coal-powered electricity plant on Koh Kong in Cambodia. Costs are high because a 400-kilometre transmission line must be installed, he said.
Construction will have to take place in Cambodia, Mr. Visit said, because of protests over building any kind of electrical power plants in Thailand.
Meanwhile, Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop said her ministry would continue its feasibility study on a nuclear-powered electricity plant.
Budget allocation on the study is set at Bt1.3 billion and must be completed within three years, said Mrs. Poonpirom. If a nuclear-powered electricity plant is built within the next 13 years, both pros and cons in regard to the population as well as the economy, and acceptance by the public must first be taken into consideration. (TNA)-E111
Business News : Last Update : 13:40:30 21 February 2008 (GMT+7:00)
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=2919
Power plant protesters rally at Natural Resources Ministry
BANGKOK, June 9 (TNA) - Several groups of protesters unsatisfied with the proposed construction of two power plant construction projects rallied at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Monday.
The protesters demanded transparency from the ministry and the government, and called for genuine public participation in assessing the environmental impact of two power plants project now in the pipeline.
Claiming to represent those affected by the Nongsaeng power plant in Saraburi province, and the Samedtai thermal power plant project in Chachuengsao province, over 100 protesters sealed the entrance of the ministry with pick-up trucks equipped with megaphones.
Amid a heavy security presence of uniformed police, the protesters said the local residents did not want the power plants built in their neighbourhoods because the facilities would pollute and destroy their communities and the environment.
They demanded that Thailand's state and public agencies respect and take into account the rights of local communities and strictly comply by the law requiring public participation in developing infrastructure projects.
They specifically asked for the Natural Resource and Environment Policy and Planning Office to share the results of the environmental impact assessment conducted for the Nong Saeng project and to revise the entire EIA for the Samedtai project to ensure genuine public participation in the process. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 18:40:24 9 June 2008 (GMT+7:00)
Archives
http://enews.mcot.net/view.php?id=4678
Poisonous fumes from generating plant kill residents
Court case brought in 2005-no sign of settlement
Saksit Meesubkwang
A resident of Ban Hua Fa in Lampang, Sribut Wongchana , died recently as a result of pneumonia following chronic respiratory illness induced by inhaling lignite and poisonous sulphur dioxide gas emitted from Mae Moh Lignite Power Generating Plant, owned by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. His funeral was held on July 14, and was attended by the Governor of Lampang, Direk Konkloeb.
Sribut was a member of the Network of the Afflicted, a group comprised of 143 local residents in the vicinity of the plant who have been afflicted with severe respiratory disease for over 10 years as a result of dangerous emission from the power station. Sufferers petitioned the Chiang Mai Administrative Court in 2004, bringing charges against the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand for polluting the atmosphere with lignite, causing chronic illness and death to local residents; the case is still under consideration with no sign of settlement to date. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand and each successive government during that period are accused of ignoring local people affected by the poisonous fumes.
The leader of the Network of the Afflicted, Maliwan Nakviroj, stated that eight people had died in 2008, and that many more deaths had occurred in previous years.
Even though the government and EGAT have claimed that they have remedied the issues and provided constant assistance to those affected, the facts, Maliwan said, state otherwise in that neither EGAT nor the relevant state organizations have done anything. Recently, four villages were relocated and compensation paid to those wishing to relocate elsewhere to aid with the building of new homes. This is seen by the Network as an attempt by EGAT to separate its members, who insist that EGAT builds houses worth not over 500,000 baht in the relocation areas. EGAT has refused to do this, even though the Cabinet has issued a resolution ordering the company to do so. No agreement has so far been reached.
http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/current/news.shtml#hd15
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