Thai Govt Gets Tough Over Power Use: Electricity Consumption

[webfact]

POWER WOES

Govt gets tough over power use

The Nation

Steps to reduce electricity consumption will be unveiled today; agencies warned of budget cuts

BANGKOK: -- The government is ramping up energy-saving measures encompassing both government units and private organisations to help avert a possible blackout due to a scheduled disruption in the supply of natural gas from Myanmar.

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The moves would be announced today after an emergency meeting at the Energy Ministry, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said.

The Cabinet yesterday approved in principle a policy encouraging energy-saving measures at state agencies, on business premises and in households, as the halt in natural gas delivery from Myanmar will mean the loss of 1,100 million cubic feet per day (mcfpd) from April 4-12. All government units have been told to keep electricity bills at 10 per cent of total expenditures, or face a cut in other expenditure.

The Energy Ministry has been assigned to monitor the daily use of power, petrol and electricity starting today and continuing into April, when Myanmar's Yadana gas field will be shut down for drilling-rig maintenance.

Energy Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal has been assigned to negotiate with Myanmar to try to postpone the maintenance by a few days to coincide with the Songkran festival, when power consumption by the industrial sector usually drops.

PTT senior executive vice president Chakree Buranakanon said the company, as a partner in the Yadana gas field, has negotiated with operator Total several times seeking a postponement of the shutdown. A delay of three or four days would ease the situation, he said, as power consumption usually declines during Songkran.

As a short-term measure, PTT plans to raise gas output from the Gulf of Thailand by 100 mcfpd during the period and to reduce natural gas consumption at its separation plants by another 100 mcfpd. Chakree expected that 350 mcfpd of gas remaining in the pipeline would be sufficient for NGV-driven vehicles in the west of Thailand.

Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) Governor Sutas Patamasiriwat admitted that power "brownouts" - drops in voltage in the power-supply system - were possible in the South and Bangkok during the period, without the high-voltage pressure from power plants in the country's west.

"The disruption will have severe impacts, as the shutdowns usually occur during the cool season. Yet, this time it is happening in the hot season, and it can't be delayed, due to the destabilisation of the drilling rig."

During the shutdown period, six power plants in the west will operate on bunker oil and diesel.

Former energy minister Piyasvasti Amranand said that as diesel and bunker oil are to replace natural gas, the public should not be held solely responsible for the extra generating cost. The gas-field operator should also be held responsible, he said. Piyasvasti suggested all parties cooperate in the energy-saving campaign, particularly shopping complexes, which he said should not set their air-conditioning systems below 27 degrees Celsius.

The general public should also be encouraged not to wear suits and to turn off some lights. For a long-term solution, Thailand should reduce its reliance on natural gas from 70 per cent of its power supply at present, and conduct further studies on nuclear and other alternative sources of power, he said.

During the Cabinet meeting yesterday, Deputy Commerce Minister Natthawut Saikua showed his enthusiasm for the policy when it was raised by offering to take off his jacket and asking other ministers to follow suit. Yingluck stopped them, however, saying such a practice could be implemented after official Cabinet approval was secured.

Three members of the government spokespeople's team wore short-sleeved shirts to set an example, after Cabinet approval was reached. Chief spokesperson Tossaporn Serirak later gave additional details about the policy, saying hospitals and airports would be exempt from the austerity measures.

According to the Energy Ministry, this summer, peak power consumption in Thailand is expected to hit 27,000 megawatts, higher than last year's peak volume of 26,700MW due to economic expansion.

Looking beyond this short-term problem, Noppol Milinthanggoon, chief executive officer of Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding - two of whose power plants in Ratchaburi will be affected by the disrupted gas supply from Myanmar - was more concerned with Thailand's low "spinning reserve" and the delay in building large-scale power plants. He said these would pose a bigger problem to national security in the long term.

He said the spinning reserve - the unused capacity that can be activated in an emergency - is now as low as 2 per cent - or just 500MW - of the country's combined installed capacity of 27,000MW. Meanwhile, Egat forecasts power demand this coming hot season will increase 5 per cent from last year's peak of 26,700MW, recorded on April 26. "With the low spinning reserve, if any power plant falls, a power blackout would be very likely," he said.

The spinning reserve will remain low this year without the additional power supply. Facing strong opposition from local residents in Chachoengsao, Siam Energy in 2010 had to relocate its 1,600MW Bang Khla power plant elsewhere and could not start operations in 2013 as planned. According to a source at the Energy Ministry, the first 800MW should be fed into the system from June 1, 2015 and the rest from December 2015.

Noppol said the spinning reserve was low partly because hydropower plants have been unable to run at full capacity because of low water levels.

-- The Nation 2013-02-20

[chooka]

turn off all the street lights, they rarely work anyway.

[jamhar]

turn off all the street lights, they rarely work anyway.

Wait, if they dont work anyhow,...........

[ChrisY1]

"Looking beyond this short-term problem, Noppol Milinthanggoon, chief executive officer of Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding - two of whose power plants in Ratchaburi will be affected by the disrupted gas supply from Myanmar - was more concerned with Thailand's low "spinning reserve" and the delay in building large-scale power plants. He said these would pose a bigger problem to national security in the long term."

I think this is worse than is being made out here......Thailand now has a very low reserve of available power with the current infrastructure.

It may need more than the just street lights being turned out ).....more bandaid solutions

[jamhar]

Agreed

As well as the power generation issue, theres the natural reserves to generate the power. the 12 years of Natural Gas Reserves goes contrary Thai's wanting to become a manufacturing center (notice i didnt use the term "hub". you are welcome ) TL will have to address the long term power issue if it wants to continue to attract businesses. Along with flooding, educated population, ect.

[MaxLee]

That's what you get, when you treat Burma people like your B******es they turn off the gas

Let's just be prepared to join the crisis of the Koh Samui and Pangan Island from a few months ago

[BrianCR]

turn off all the street lights, they rarely work anyway.

Wait, if they dont work anyhow,...........

Wait! If they don't work anyway and we're still going to turn them off perhaps we had better have a Cabinet Meeting first so that we can appoint a well known politician to look into the truth of whether they really are on or off! Agreed? First things first what budget will be needed and into which account will it be placed?

[OzMick]

Natthawut Saikua offered to take off his jacket but Yingluck said that official Cabinet approval was required.

Do you have to put your hand up if you want to use the toilet? Is an urgency vote required?

[JetsetBkk]

Better have a three day week. Ooh, no, that would increase the power consumption by 50%.

[jonclark]

Maybe during the next election we'll all get a free solar cell array if we vote PTP

[Pimay1]

One step could be require all 7/11 stores to adjust the thermostat more than five degrees above freezing.

[Thai at Heart]

You need a cabinet resolution to take off your jacket?

Huh?

[Pimay1]

You need a cabinet resolution to take off your jacket?

Huh?

Maybe it depends on what one looks like without their jacket.

[MaxLee]

Pheu Thai: "Dear people, if you consume energy, it' will not be our fault...."

[Locationthailand]

The could save a lot by cutting off all the street vendors who steal electricity...

[belg]

if industry sees his power shut down... so after the floods of 2011, we can live the brownouts of 2013

[bigbamboo]

You need a cabinet resolution to take off your jacket?

Huh?

Maybe it depends on what one looks like without their jacket.

Or what the PM is wearing underneath?

[berg1666]

Plug some of the illegal power taps I see all around me. That would do wonders.

[Xonax]

Just buy each parliament member one of these silly solar cell caps and a Beer Chang sleeveless t-shirt = Problem solved.

[Tanaka]

Look at Germany. They produce some 20 GW with solar power, more than every other country combined. And that is in Germany which is not really known to have blistering sunshine the year around. Imagine what could be done here. Thailand could without much effort be producing all the energy it needs itself and not be depending on other countries. The sun is here. The tools and technology are available.

[jamhar]

Maybe during the next election we'll all get a free solar cell array if we vote PTP

OUCH ,That smarts!

[jamhar]

You need a cabinet resolution to take off your jacket?

Huh?

Maybe it depends on what one looks like without their jacket.

Umm, are we talking about the PM again?

Edit

dam_n bbb, you stole my line!

sorry about the poaching.

didint see your post ahead of mine.

Edited February 20, 2013 by jamhar

[rheinwiese]

One step could be require all 7/11 stores to adjust the thermostat more than five degrees above freezing.

Add all department stores and malls nationwide

[khunken]

If they want to make an impact it needs more than words which, if corruption is anything to go on, is about their limit.

Knock heads together: get the BTS, MRT, Emporium group, Central group & many others to meet with the energy minister & told to ensure their thermostats are above 26-27C.

Get a selection of high-usage businesses together and ask (demand) them to reduce their consumption by (say) 5-10% during the critical period.

On a lighter note, female shop assistants should be allowed to wear bikinis.

[jamhar]

Look at Germany. They produce some 20 GW with solar power, more than every other country combined. And that is in Germany which is not really known to have blistering sunshine the year around. Imagine what could be done here. Thailand could without much effort be producing all the energy it needs itself and not be depending on other countries. The sun is here. The tools and technology are available.

that would require prior planning, and commitment. so that cant happen now.

But theres plenty of time to wait a decade,

and with knee jerk reaction,

retroactively implement a solar solution that "you've been planning for a while"

because you just found out that the natural gas fields are going to go dry

while you're still in office.

did i miss anything?

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[bigbamboo]

You need a cabinet resolution to take off your jacket?

Huh?

Maybe it depends on what one looks like without their jacket.

Umm, are we talking about the PM again?

Edit

dam_n bbb, you stole my line!

sorry about the poaching.

didint see your post ahead of mine.

Just proves great minds think alike!

[diddums]

turn off all the street lights, they rarely work anyway.

Wait, if they dont work anyhow,...........

chookas australian

[Skywalker69]

One step could be require all 7/11 stores to adjust the thermostat more than five degrees above freezing.

Cinemas included.

[MaxLee]

One step could be require all 7/11 stores to adjust the thermostat more than five degrees above freezing.

Cinemas included.

Houses with Air con included as well, if people wanna take a rest and don't want to sweat.