Thailand's Nuclear Power Project's Future Rests On Cabinet

[webfact]

Nuclear power project's future rests on Cabinet

By The Nation

Thailand will meet the schedule of having its first nuclear plant feed power into the system in 2021 if the government gives its approval, the technical adviser to the Nuclear Power Programme Development Office (NPPDO), Pricha Karasuddhi, has said.

In an interview to Energy Saving magazine, he said that once the government gave its nod for the nuclear-power development programme in January, construction could start in 2014, with completion slated for 2020. He said construction of the second plant would take less than six years, as personnel would be more experienced then.

The Cabinet will be asked to consider the plan in January, three years after the programme was initiated as part of the policy for national energy security. During the past three years, the office has spent most of its time selecting the appropriate locations.

The NPPDO was established to educate the public and clarify points of concern. It is also to complete a study on Thailand's readiness, which covers 19 points, including personnel, safety, legal environment, and international agreements.

Even if the Cabinet turns down the plan, "the public-awareness process won't stop. We still need to continue with the education process or we will lose our contact with local people," Pricha said in the interview. "The process must continue until the day nuclear power plants are erected."

In terms of personnel, Thailand is ready. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which is in charge of expediting the power plants, has about 100 people ready for this task. They have been sent to China, South Korea or Japan for training.

Pricha also assured all of safety.

"The safety level is high, as seen in the absence of accidents at 400 nuclear power plants. Moreover, communities within a 5-kilometre radius of the nuclear power plants should benefit from financial assistance, at over 2 satang per unit, from the community development fund."

During the past three years, the office found that 60 per cent of the public agreed with the nuclear-power plan, while 40 per cent opposed it. However, in the target provinces where the nuclear power plants are to be located, the approval rate was 40 per cent. The approval rate at the community level could fall further to 20 per cent.

Pricha noted that it was important to explore how to raise the approval rate at the community level.

Agence France-Presse reported that Malaysia was looking to build two 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants by 2022 to counter an "imbalance" in its energy supplies, according to that country's energy minister on Sunday.

Peter Chin's comments to state media follow his announcement in May that the cabinet had approved in principle the construction of Malaysia's first nuclear power plant by 2021.

Chin told the Bernama news agency that the government hoped, by 2013 or 2014, to be able to finish evaluating the requirements for the nuclear plants.

He said the country was heavily reliant on fossil fuels for its electricity supply, with gas accounting for 64 per cent of Malaysia's total energy generation and the rest coming from coal.

"We must get away from this. [it is] very much [an] imbalance. Most countries have a good balance."

Malaysia's nuclear plan has been attacked by environmental activists who say the government has not thoroughly considered other forms of energy generation such as solar, hydroelectric and wind power.

But Chin said the potential for renewable sources was limited.

"Yes, very good, everyone wants to say that we want renewables, but what about cost Can we force the people to accept high tariffs" he said.

"We want hydropower to assume a prominent role, as it is clean, but this can only be achieved in Sabah and Sarawak [on Borneo island], where there is much potential - but not in peninsular Malaysia."

State energy firm Tenaga has said it could construct Malaysia's first nuclear power plant at a cost of US$3.1 billion (Bt93 billion).

-- The Nation 2010-12-30

[gotlost]

This would be like given a loaded gun to a child and say HAVE FUN.

[sjjmmi]

OMG

[asiawatcher]

Schools out on this but imagine a looney Red Shirt with an incendiary device at some future date pissed off with whatever Govt is in power - they tried it at Suvarnabhumi in the avgas tanks, why not a nuclear reactor?

[fnprop]

"In terms of personnel, Thailand is ready. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which is in charge of expediting the power plants, has about 100 people ready for this task. They have been sent to China, South Korea or Japan for training."

No doubt watching Homer at work on some Simpsons re-runs.

This would be like given a loaded gun to a child and say HAVE FUN.

Yeah, you're not sure what will happen, but chances are pretty good that it will make the papers.

"A Baan Nakhon Nowhere district police spokesman said that as soon as the alarms started ringing, the night shift operator fled the scene. An EGAT union representative claimed that this was all politically motivated, and union members will gather in front of Government House to protest mistreatment of Thai nuclear workers by the EGAT board. The Cabinet met in emergency session, and responsibility for securing the site was turned over to ISOC, claiming that Thaksin was responsible for the meltdown. The plant manager was immediately transferred to a new position at the Ministry of Inactive Posts. Army personnel at scene denied that there had been any incident. A military spokesman claimed that the GT2000 radiation detectors showed that there was no radioactive leakage, and he doesn't understand what the big fuss is about. TAT believes that this will be an great opportunity for tourism, and expects Thailand to replace the Ukraine as the 'Hub of Nuclear Disasters.' Yemenese entrepreneurs, assisted by laborers from the Southern Philippines are already on the scene, buying up allegedly tainted rubble for export. A statement from the Commerce Ministry said that stockpiling, inventory, and export of materials from the site would be under strict government control, like the rice stockpiles."

[Ricardo]

Does anyone know, do brown-envelopes come, in 'Glow-in-the-Dark' ?

[elshaheen]

I agree with most of these comments. Thailand doesn't know how or would be capable of handing a ticking time bomb. In order for them to successfully develop such a program, they would have to use foreign experts to build it and "train" these people on how run a nuclear reactor.

[Northman061]

OMG!!!! Roads and pavements/Sidewalks unkempt and dangerous, no traffic flow systems, no active law enforcemnet on the roads, ignorant and uncaring drivers, power lines with bare wires like spiders webs two foot above your head, motorcycles driving next to you as you walk and travelling against the traffic flow,hundreds of unocupied/half built derelict apartments and buildings etc etc

Lets try to get the basics of daily living sorted out before someone spends TRILLIONS of baht on a project that, if built, would be late, over budget and certainly mis managed.

How many BILLIONS every year would the Army Millionaire generals expect to "protect" it?

How many BILLIONS in "maintenace" contracts would "Elites" businesses and family friends get?

How many BILLIONS in infrastructure to get access to the plant and the power distribution systems cost?

There are so many reasons why Thailand is simply incapable of even contemplating this project.........Frightening.

[aussiebebe]

Thailand clearly has the capacity to meet it's energy needs with green energy, but there are trade-offs and costs to that. It can be done, but that's not necessarily the same as saying it must be done. When compared with the alternatives of 4,000 large on-shore wind turbines covering 1,500sq km, or two biomass plants requiring all land within a 110km raduis, the proposed two nuclear stations look the least-cost solution to decarbonising Thailand's electricity sector while reducing import dependence on gas. I echo other poster's concerns about neptotism, corruption and safety but it might be the lesser of two evils; current policies to subsidize foreign oil and gas don't benefit Thailand either.

[bangon04]

The Mayan calendar doesn't say anything about 2021.

Can someone check Nostradamus for me?

What does the fortune teller in Phuket think?

My Christmas tree rests on the cabinet, but it sometimes falls over.

[tutone]

What provinces are the nuclear power plants supposed to be built?

[mccw]

Thailand clearly has the capacity to meet it's energy needs with green energy, but there are trade-offs and costs to that. It can be done, but that's not necessarily the same as saying it must be done. When compared with the alternatives of 4,000 large on-shore wind turbines covering 1,500sq km, or two biomass plants requiring all land within a 110km raduis, the proposed two nuclear stations look the least-cost solution to decarbonising Thailand's electricity sector while reducing import dependence on gas. I echo other poster's concerns about neptotism, corruption and safety but it might be the lesser of two evils; current policies to subsidize foreign oil and gas don't benefit Thailand either.

I agree with what you say.

Also, although not spoken of, there is the military aspect. If thailands neighbours are / or going to be enriching uranium it's wise to be doing the same.

The thing I'm wondering though is how are the uranium supplies? Who controls them? If everyones going nuclear and moving away from fossil fuels could the price sky rocket in a few decades?

[Ricardo]

I'm sure that there would be a deal, frozen-chicken in exchange for enriched-uranium, if the need ever arose, or possibly even if the need wasn't there yet !

[BlueTerrace]

Stunned..They cant even keep the power flowing 24/7 in central Bangkok, yet they're going to give these guys a nuclear power station!!??

[wolfmuc]

Stunned..They cant even keep the power flowing 24/7 in central Bangkok, yet they're going to give these guys a nuclear power station!!??

Well said. But 'they cant even keep the power flowing 24/7' all over the country...

[wolfmuc]

What provinces are the nuclear power plants supposed to be built?

I think to remember Phetchabun and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Mai penn rai, there's a lot of those 'plants' everywhere: 'Aside from China, Vietnam and Indonesia have also started constructing nuclear power plants' (Preparation for nuclear power plant stepped up-The Nation-April 14, 2010). And China has already a lot of them running, some not so far away from Siam.

[Soutpeel]

Interesting to see all the farang loonies on TV have come out to play on this subject...

[Soutpeel]

In order for them to successfully develop such a program, they would have to use foreign experts to build it and "train" these people on how run a nuclear reactor.

This is exactly what would happen and construction and operation would be under IAEC rules, which if Thailand decides not to play by, they will not get anymore fuel for the plants.

Contray to what hysterical members of TV think, Any Thai commerical nuclear program has to be run in accordance with IAEC rules and failure to do so can and will result in pulling of operating licenses right up to none supply of fuel rods

[wolfmuc]

In order for them to successfully develop such a program, they would have to use foreign experts to build it and "train" these people on how run a nuclear reactor.

This is exactly what would happen and construction and operation would be under IAEC rules, which if Thailand decides not to play by, they will not get anymore fuel for the plants.

Contray to what hysterical members of TV think, Any Thai commerical nuclear program has to be run in accordance with IAEC rules and failure to do so can and will result in pulling of operating licenses right up to none supply of fuel rods

Hi Soutpeel, that's not correct. I'm missing "In terms of personnel, Thailand is ready. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which is in charge of expediting the power plants, has about 100 people ready for this task. They have been sent to China, South Korea or Japan for training." And I think you know Thailand. - Still today 24 years after the fall-out coming with wind and rain from Tchernobyl more than 2000 kilometres away, there is contamination in southern Germany and Austria. Varying from region to region you better should not eat the fruits of the woods(mushroom,deer,wild boar).

Cheers. LOONY I.

[Soutpeel]

Hi Soutpeel, that's not correct. I'm missing "In terms of personnel, Thailand is ready. The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, which is in charge of expediting the power plants, has about 100 people ready for this task. They have been sent to China, South Korea or Japan for training."

Well for one, it takes more than 100 people to design and construct any commerical PS.. .....Secondly I suspect the "training" has been "fact finding missions" more than anything else.

Thailand has yet to decide on what type of power station to build, therefore sending personnel to any of these countries doesnt mean a thing..

Thirdly....two of the three countries mentioned use French PWR technology (who actually built plants in these countries)

And finally.....What has Chenoble got to do with this topic.

Thailand will not be building any nuclear power stations off their own bat, it will be somebody like Framatome (or what ever they are called these days) who will design/construct and operate the power station for the first few years

[DP25]

Stunned..They cant even keep the power flowing 24/7 in central Bangkok, yet they're going to give these guys a nuclear power station!!??

I've lived in Bangkok for years and I've never had the power go out, except for once and they told me when it would go out days in advance. Way more reliable than back home.

Anyway, great news, hope they get this up and running. They've had their research reactor running for over 40 years already, time to move on to a larger one for power generation.

[yellow1red1]

Schools out on this but imagine a looney Red Shirt with an incendiary device at some future date pissed off with whatever Govt is in power - they tried it at Suvarnabhumi in the avgas tanks, why not a nuclear reactor?

or a looney Yellow Shirt .. at some future date

[yellow1red1]

months ago a TV Poster mentioned to check out 'Thorium'

After a read, what is stopping the world?

maybe because it will not make weapons grade? methinks

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thorium

http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/aug/25nuke.htm

http://www.world-nuclear.org/info/inf53.html

pssst Thailand, wanna buy....??? >

• India has a flourishing and largely indigenous nuclear power program and expects to have 20,000 MWe nuclear capacity on line by 2020 and 63,000 MWe by 2032. It aims to supply 25% of electricity from nuclear power by 2050.
• Because India is outside the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty due to its weapons program, it was for 34 years largely excluded from trade in nuclear plant or materials, which has hampered its development of civil nuclear energy until 2009.
• Due to these trade bans and lack of indigenous uranium, India has uniquely been developing a nuclear fuel cycle to exploit its reserves of thorium.
• Now, foreign technology and fuel are expected to boost India's nuclear power plans considerably. All plants will have high indigenous engineering content.
• India has a vision of becoming a world leader in nuclear technology due to its expertise in fast reactors and thorium fuel cycle.

[Soutpeel]

• Due to these trade bans and lack of indigenous uranium, India has uniquely been developing a nuclear fuel cycle to exploit its reserves of thorium.
• India has a vision of becoming a world leader in nuclear technology due to its expertise in fast reactors and thorium fuel cycle.

The problem as far as I can see with the Thorium process, is how many megawatts you are getting out of the process, the article quotes 300MW, which is far below what you would expect out of a PWR Uranium type reactor, typically 1000MW.

Another similar type system is the "pebble bed" reactor which have been under development in South African for many years which would provide similar amount of output.

Cost per megawatt is the key to nuclear power, how much does it cost to build a unit which gets you 300MW versus a 1000MW unit, also this sort of process, as with the pebble bed reactor does not yet have a proven track record.

The "Indigenous uranium" quoted above I feel is a bit of misinformation on the part of India, as even countries with abundant uranium reserves generally cannot enrich the Uranium to commerical grade or manufacture the fuel rods required for their own units, South Africa is good example of this, who still get the fuel rods for their PWR's from France.

[yellow1red1]

• Due to these trade bans and lack of indigenous uranium, India has uniquely been developing a nuclear fuel cycle to exploit its reserves of thorium.
• India has a vision of becoming a world leader in nuclear technology due to its expertise in fast reactors and thorium fuel cycle.

The problem as far as I can see with the Thorium process, is how many megawatts you are getting out of the process, the article quotes 300MW, which is far below what you would expect out of a PWR Uranium type reactor, typically 1000MW.

Another similar type system is the "pebble bed" reactor which have been under development in South African for many years which would provide similar amount of output.

Cost per megawatt is the key to nuclear power, how much does it cost to build a unit which gets you 300MW versus a 1000MW unit, also this sort of process, as with the pebble bed reactor does not yet have a proven track record.

The "Indigenous uranium" quoted above I feel is a bit of misinformation on the part of India, as even countries with abundant uranium reserves generally cannot enrich the Uranium to commerical grade or manufacture the fuel rods required for their own units, South Africa is good example of this, who still get the fuel rods for their PWR's from France.

hmm so 1/3 the power, but 10 times more plentiful, and disposal costs are a huge factor, and you can't make weapons.

and it's thorium, not "indingenous uranium' that India has

... well we will soon find out from India

think their program is advanced enough that Thailand could have looks, tho

lack of indigenous uranium

Edited January 2, 2011 by yellow1red1