Samui Focuses On Infrastructure After Worst Blackout Experience

[webfact]

SAMUI

Samui focuses on infrastructure after worst blackout experience

Bamrung Amnatcharoenrit

The Nation

SAMUI: -- The recent 72-hour blackout on Samui island, the longest in its history, has forced the tourism sector there to realise the importance of sustainable infrastructure development, especially electricity supply, through alternative energy projects that will secure growth in the long run, Tanongsak Somwong, president of the Tourism Association of Koh Samui (TAKS), said.

One of the options is solar energy, due to the tropical climate in the area. The TAKS, which comprises 260 registered members from hotels, resorts and restaurants, will initiate discussions on this issue with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) or the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Also, it has urged the government to encourage the island to become energy independent.

"We have talked regularly with members over the direction of places like Pattaya and Phuket. We realise the island should be promoted as a boutique island resort, along with its sustainable growth in the future,'' he said.

All the parties involved on the island will have to work together to achieve this ambition, especially for the infrastructure to be in line with urban development. Starting with electricity supply, he said the situation would be improved after the completion of new cable installations by the end of February next year.

To save the island from electricity shortages, especially during the high season starting from Christmas, the PEA will bring in 15 mobile generators to help produce electricity to serve the rising demand. Also, big hotels will be asked to use electricity from their own generators from 6.30pm to 9pm. The PEA will help subsidise the fuel cost for such production.

Currently, the PEA can produce 95 megawatts, but can supply only 70-80 per cent of capacity. But during the peak period, electricity demand in the island is estimated at 105 megawatts.

Mercure Samui Chaweng Tana and Ibis Samui Bophut, part of the Accor hotel chain, are in high gear to take care of guests during festive season. The two have their own generators to produce electricity to serve their internal and external requirements.

Tanongsak said there are 16,000 rooms registered with the association, but in reality there are more than 20,000 rooms on the island.

A study on Samui released in recent months by C9 Hotelworks Co, an internationally recognised consulting firm in the Asia Pacific, cited a report from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports as saying that total accommodation establishments on the island comprised 425 hotels with 15,372 rooms in the first quarter in 2011. Also in the first half of this year, there were 455,778 passenger arrivals at Samui Airport.

Beyond electricity production, the island will also focus on its energy-saving campaign. Today, Tanongsak said the island is one of the pioneers in switching from traditional light bulbs to energy-saving ones. Currently, more than 90 per cent of its members use them.

Regarding water supply, the mobile Cabinet meeting held in October on the island agreed in principle to expand its water sources and secure their usage during the dry season. In terms of garbage disposal, the association has launched a campaign to reduce garbage accumulation. Satisfactorily, the quantity of garbage has stayed flat at 135 tonnes a day, thanks to the promotion of the use of recycled containers.

-- The Nation 2012-12-21