Thailand Considers Nuclear Energy as Gas Supplies Dwindle

[webfact]

File photo for reference only. Courtesy: wikimedia

 

Thailand's journey towards nuclear energy takes centre stage as the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) delves into a proposed small modular reactor (SMR) project.

 

With domestic gas shortages looming, the nation is looking to supplement its energy mix amidst unsuccessful negotiations with Cambodia over joint petroleum production in a contested area of the Gulf of Thailand.

 

The overlapping claims area (OCA) has the potential to yield a new gas field, but progress has been marred by concerns that the 2001 memorandum of understanding could undermine Thailand's control over Koh Kut island, a picturesque tourist spot.

 

Faced with diminishing natural gas reserves, Thailand's ambition to shore up its energy sources is evident in the 2024 power development plan, which emphasises clean energy.

 

Small modular reactors, offering up to 300 megawatts of power each, present a nuclear alternative, these reactors promise a third of the capacity of traditional nuclear power plants but with a potentially less invasive footprint.

Poonpat Leesombatpiboon, chief of the ERC, revealed plans for a collaboration with the Office for Atoms for Peace, with a memorandum of understanding to jointly explore the nuclear venture.

 

According to insiders, the 2024 development plan, extending through 2037, envisions the installation of two SMRs, each designed to deliver 300 megawatts, by the plan's conclusion.

 

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) will lead this nuclear initiative, supported by insights from a 125-MW SMR project in Hainan, China. EGAT governor Thapparat Theppitak, impressed by the advanced technology, dubbed SMRs a "game changer" for the global energy landscape.

 

While the cost of SMRs currently outweighs that of combined-cycle power plants, Thapparat believes prices will drop, and their 60-year lifespan offers a significant advantage over the 25-year average of gas or coal-fired plants.

 

As Thailand grapples with these intricate energy challenges, the ERC's nuclear strategy could redefine the nation's power landscape.

 

-- 2024-11-15

 

 

[lordgrinz]

This seriously increases the odds of Thailand experiencing a Nuclear Disaster in the near future. I mean, if we take into consideration how they have run everything else, this should be easy money for bettors.

[JoePai]

Let RR build, supply AND run it then all would be good

[StraightTalk]

52 minutes ago, webfact said:

The overlapping claims area (OCA) has the potential to yield a new gas field, but progress has been marred by concerns that the 2001 memorandum of understanding could undermine Thailand's control over Koh Kut island, a picturesque tourist spot.

This is indeed a blessing in disguise, as the risk of potential crude oil spills is very real and could be disastrous for Koh Kut Island and its surrounding areas.

 

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

Small modular reactors, offering up to 300 megawatts of power each, present a nuclear alternative, these reactors promise a third of the capacity of traditional nuclear power plants but with a potentially less invasive footprint

I hope this plan comes to fruition, as it offers a sensible approach to addressing the ever-increasing demand for power.

 

55 minutes ago, webfact said:

While the cost of SMRs currently outweighs that of combined-cycle power plants, Thapparat believes prices will drop, and their 60-year lifespan offers a significant advantage over the 25-year average of gas or coal-fired plants.

The EGAT governor would benefit from consulting with highly qualified accountants to develop a more precise quantitative assessment of potential future savings and price reductions.

 

Also, Bill Gates, the owner of TerraPower, and his nuclear scientists have been working on next-generation nuclear technology for quite some time.
https://www.gatesnotes.com/Wyoming-TerraPower-groundbreaking

[Emdog]

One surefire way to get me to leave Thailand and move somewhere up wind is Thais having reactors.  So many ways to cut corners, endanger current and future lives due to mai pen rai attitude... nope I'd be gone.

And how about handling the nuke waste from small reactors: seems ideal situation for those who may wish to make a dirty bomb. A well placed bribe or two and away you go.

[ravip]

15 minutes ago, Emdog said:

One surefire way to get me to leave Thailand and move somewhere up wind is Thais having reactors.  So many ways to cut corners, endanger current and future lives due to mai pen rai attitude... nope I'd be gone.

And how about handling the nuke waste from small reactors: seems ideal situation for those who may wish to make a dirty bomb. A well placed bribe or two and away you go.

If Thailand is so risky, why wait for the reactors to arrive?

It's always advisable to do your research before moving into a country.

Wild speculations and accusations are of no use to anyone.

[daveAustin]

37 minutes ago, Emdog said:

One surefire way to get me to leave Thailand and move somewhere up wind is Thais having reactors.  So many ways to cut corners, endanger current and future lives due to mai pen rai attitude... nope I'd be gone.

And how about handling the nuke waste from small reactors: seems ideal situation for those who may wish to make a dirty bomb. A well placed bribe or two and away you go.

I’m sure they’ll miss you. ‘They’ said similar when the Skytrain was built and Suvarnabhumi Airport. Some very capable engineers here and this kind of venture would likely be well safeguarded and have international help. 

[John Drake]

The plans are already on the books. 

 

Sure, here you go.

 

 

 

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

proposed small modular reactor (SMR) project

These are perfect for Thailand now facing an energy crisis.

"Small modular reactors (SMRs) can take between 2–3 years to build, which is much faster than the average of 8 years for large reactors. This is due to the use of prefabricated building elements and modularization, which can help to reduce costs and speed up construction."

They "can produce up to 300 megawatts of electric power and 7.2 million kWh per day."

(Generative AI)

SMRs also may mean less issues with spent nuclear rods than large nuclear plants.

[Purdey]

For a country that has to constantly fill potholes in the roads, a job well done is hardly a term that can be applied here. Look at the pollution created by coal fired generating plants like Mae Moh. No one cares.

Nuclear energy good, Thai nuclear energy bad.

[Rampant Rabbit]

2 hours ago, John Drake said:

The plans are already on the books. 

 

Sure, here you go.

 

 

 

keep it real man

[mran66]

Look forward to see the cable installations in local nuclear plant. And see how they mix concrete with half of steel and cement stolen. 

 

Observe it all from other side of the planet. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Small modular reactors, offering up to 300 megawatts of power each, present a nuclear alternative, these reactors promise a third of the capacity of traditional nuclear power plants but with a potentially less invasive footprint.

Go for it....

[BarraMarra]

I can just see the locals digging through the spent fuel rods binned on the side of a road.

[Puccini]

Thailand should use solar energy and hydroelectric power generation.

[ModdaPunk]

Good move.

Much better than renewables

[connda]

Nuclear is an option to carry a country over to the time when fusion is commercially viable, somewhere in the 2050 range.

I don't know why they say gas is in short supply.  It's not.  Plenty of natural gas if you're not afraid of Uncle Sanctions.

[connda]

Of course, they'll build SMR and then sell most of the energy to Big Tech Data Centers and the native population is still screwed.

[NoDisplayName]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Small modular reactors, offering up to 300 megawatts of power each, present a nuclear alternative, these reactors promise a third of the capacity of traditional nuclear power plants but with a potentially less invasive footprint.

 

And the magic amulets that ward off nukular meltdowns are smaller and cheaper.

 

Of course when rice field engineer installs an extra 50 unauthorized fuel rods in a secret compartment under the cafeteria..........

[Lacessit]

5 hours ago, Emdog said:

One surefire way to get me to leave Thailand and move somewhere up wind is Thais having reactors.  So many ways to cut corners, endanger current and future lives due to mai pen rai attitude... nope I'd be gone.

And how about handling the nuke waste from small reactors: seems ideal situation for those who may wish to make a dirty bomb. A well placed bribe or two and away you go.

Do you avoid flying with any Thai carrier, because the pilots are Thai and by your definition incompetent? Or the aircraft have not been maintained?

 

I am confident any nuclear industry in Thailand would have the same international oversight as the aircraft industry.

 

Having said that, an Australian report indicates SMR is a very expensive way to produce electricity:

 

"The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has estimated that small modular reactors (SMRs) are a high-cost technology that would not play a major role in Australia's efforts to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The CSIRO's 2023-24 GenCost report found that SMRs are up to nine times more expensive than large-scale wind and solar".

 

 

[BarraMarra]

21 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Do you avoid flying with any Thai carrier, because the pilots are Thai and by your definition incompetent? Or the aircraft have not been maintained?

 

I am confident any nuclear industry in Thailand would have the same international oversight as the aircraft industry.

 

Having said that, an Australian report indicates SMR is a very expensive way to produce electricity:

 

"The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has estimated that small modular reactors (SMRs) are a high-cost technology that would not play a major role in Australia's efforts to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The CSIRO's 2023-24 GenCost report found that SMRs are up to nine times more expensive than large-scale wind and solar".

 

 

Air Asia flight 8501 an Airbus A320 crashed into the java sea in 2014 killing all 162 onboard. Technical fault caused this. 

[StreetCowboy]

My 30 seconds' research indicates that there have been no significant nuclear accidents at the Thai reactor in the years since it opened.  That might be 60+ years, or it might be about 50 years. 

 

If Wikipedia is to be trusted, there were three fatalities from a radiological incident in Samut Prakarn slightly more than 20 years ago. 

 

As far as I can tell, no injuries have been linked to last year's loss of radio-active material from a power station in Prachin Buri.  The material was subsequently recovered.

[Lacessit]

9 minutes ago, BarraMarra said:

Air Asia flight 8501 an Airbus A320 crashed into the java sea in 2014 killing all 162 onboard. Technical fault caused this. 

Air Asia is headquartered  in Kuala Lumpur. The pilot was Indonesian, the First Officer a French national.

 

The cause of the crash was ascribed to pilot error.

 

I don't know what your point is.

Edited 6 hours ago by Lacessit

[xtrnuno41]

Well they are not Hinkley's , but who is going to pay up and exploiting it? Private companies as wel?

Still there is a lot of gas, but countries are switching, they must. CO2 problem.

ME countries  want to sell gas, but on long contracts, which isnt appreciated.

Of course a USA dont care , buy the gas and export it again, fast big money.

Ships going to USA and then sell and again back to everywhere in the world. Or would they be sensible to export direct then and them as a in between "person"?

Russian gas is still sold to an EU, only then it has to come in with a ship, excluded from sanctions, yha right.

And as consumer, you pay the bill.

But maybe Thailand also has to go nucleair. It is waiting on nucleair fusion.

Just red this week Thailand also wants to expand on solar and then H2?

 

 

[SpaceKadet]

11 hours ago, lordgrinz said:

This seriously increases the odds of Thailand experiencing a Nuclear Disaster in the near future. I mean, if we take into consideration how they have run everything else, this should be easy money for bettors.

And how would that Nuclear Disaster happen? Do tell...

[Mr Meeseeks]

 

4 hours ago, StreetCowboy said:

My 30 seconds' research indicates that there have been no significant nuclear accidents at the Thai reactor in the years since it opened.  That might be 60+ years, or it might be about 50 years. 

 

If Wikipedia is to be trusted, there were three fatalities from a radiological incident in Samut Prakarn slightly more than 20 years ago. 

 

As far as I can tell, no injuries have been linked to last year's loss of radio-active material from a power station in Prachin Buri.  The material was subsequently recovered.

 

There have been another two incidents of discarded nuclear source tubes in recent memory. One was found discarded in the ghost tower in Bang Rak.

 

Also, I have first-hand evidence of seeing nuclear sources being kept in a house on a housing estate in central Bangkok by one of the country's biggest NDT companies.

 

Thailand is not ready for nuclear power.

 

Comparisons with airports and mass transit are facile and inaccurate.