Yingluck Urges Public To Have Confidence In Government Plan To Address Power Issue

[webfact]

PM urges public to have confidence in government plan to address power issue
By Digital Media



BANGKOK, Feb 23 -- Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Saturday urged the public to have confidence in the government's plans and measures to address the possible power supply crisis in April because of an expected disruption of natural gas supplied from Myanmar.

The premier, on her weekly TV programme "Yingluck Government Meets the People," said that the government has urged the pubic to help save energy and is seeking additional power supply reserves to ease the impact of a possible power shortage on April 5.

April 5 was expected to be a peak period for electricity usage and risked blackouts in some areas of Bangkok and in some parts of southern region, she said.

The government has asked for cooperation from state enterprises and government offices to save energy by reducing the usage of power and raising the temperature setting of air conditioners, said the premier.

She added that the government has also requested factories suspend their production on April 5 to reduce the burden on the power supply.

Ms Yingluck said she believed that after April 5, the country would enter the holiday festival of Songkran and the power usage would be reduced.

She said the government has prepared measures in response to the worst case scenario by reserving bunker oil and diesel full to run supplementary power plants.

Myanmar will shut down the Yadana gas field during April 5-14, cutting off the daily supply of 1 billion cubic feet, when power demand in Thailand is expected to peak. The shutdown will affect the operations of all six power plants in the west of Thailand with a combined capacity of 6,000 megawatts.

Each year, Thailand's gas supply from Myanmar's Yadana field is halted for pipeline maintenance during Songkran, or Thai Lunar New Year, when less natural gas is consumed.

But this year the closure will begin on April 5, before the April 12-16 holidays. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-02-23

[Artisi]

Trust me, I'm a Thai politician

[MaxLee]

"It's not our fault, you have to save power, we've warned you,... bye....

[alstaxi]

They did such a fantastic job with the flooding why is anyone even slightly concerned........☆☆☆☆

[Mosha]

Is the sign language lady saying. Not in this life time?

[Semper]

April 5 was expected to be a peak period for electricity usage and risked blackouts in some areas of Bangkok

I'll bet it wont happen in her area.

[ggold]

Is she planing a shopping trip in April?

[wayned]

Why will only April 5 be a problem? If the fields are going to be shut down from the 5th to the 21st (another source) and possibly longer why does the problem only exist on the 5th. Seems to me that we should be prepared for the worse with an elongated period of no electricity. Maybe the 5th will only affect the "haves" but I doubt that the "have nots" will be in the same situation. We'll just have to grin and bare it like the floods last year, but no power is better than 2 meters of filthy water! With her track record,there's no way she is going to comand the country to turn off your air con and expect anybody to listen!

[zydeco]

Why will only April 5 be a problem? If the fields are going to be shut down from the 5th to the 21st (another source) and possibly longer why does the problem only exist on the 5th. Seems to me that we should be prepared for the worse with an elongated period of no electricity. Maybe the 5th will only affect the "haves" but I doubt that the "have nots" will be in the same situation. We'll just have to grin and bare it like the floods last year, but no power is better than 2 meters of filthy water! With her track record,there's no way she is going to comand the country to turn off your air con and expect anybody to listen!

No power, here, does not mean just no air conditioning. For most, it also means no water from the electrical water pump, which means no showers, no water for the toilets, etc. Better start storing water, too.

[JetsetBkk]

Is the sign language lady saying. Not in this life time?

I think she quite likes are dear PM:

[Ricardo]

"As we speak, Thai power-plants are being modified, to run on rotting-rice, two problems solved at the same time !"

[Skywalker69]

PM urges public to have confidence in government

Is now a good time to press the panic button?

[A Member]

Trust me, I'm a Thai politician

I know " confidence in government " is 3 words but it's as much of an oxymoron as ' military intelligence "

[473geo]

Well of course Myanmar could just ignore the preventative maintenance for a few years, especially this year as it appears by the earlier commencement there may be a little more work required. Then when it all goes belly up with no notice you will be pleased!! Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions, guess the country will save most by cutting the power to the cities where possible, welcome to the real world guys......but don't let that stop you moaning at the government......of course we could push for a nuclear power station on the outskirts of Chian Mai....and on the eastern seaboard to supply Pattaya and Bangkok .....to safeguard your air conditioned bliss as it were.

[Pimay1]

Well of course Myanmar could just ignore the preventative maintenance for a few years, especially this year as it appears by the earlier commencement there may be a little more work required. Then when it all goes belly up with no notice you will be pleased!! Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions, guess the country will save most by cutting the power to the cities where possible, welcome to the real world guys......but don't let that stop you moaning at the government......of course we could push for a nuclear power station on the outskirts of Chian Mai....and on the eastern seaboard to supply Pattaya and Bangkok .....to safeguard your air conditioned bliss as it were.

Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions,

Mind telling us where these rural communites are that are already equipped for regular outages? They are certainly not here in Esaan.

[mca]

Is the sign language lady saying. Not in this life time?

I have it on good authority that she is The Amazing Somsii, an amateur prestidigitator from Bueng Kan and future contestant on Thailand's Got Talent.

" Ladeeez n' gentlemen, as you can see I've got nothing in my hands....."

[rheinwiese]

Smart piece of politics. Blowing up the issue and scaring the hell out of citizens.

If it does happens they will say: see, told you so.

If it doesnot happen they will say: your government did a great job

[15Peter20]

An example of the current government planning ahead where possible and letting people know they are on the case.

This kind of public service announcement garners greater public participation in the functioning of the nation and makes people feel more included in government policy. A kind of wartime spirit that pulls people together and reminds everyone that this government is of the people, by the people and for the people.

By announcing the potential problems ahead, the government will look more stupid if the shit does hit the fan with the power outages since they will have had prior knowledge and still wouldn't have been able to handle it, so here we have an act of pure public service at the potential cost of significant political capital if it goes wrong. Well done Yingluck. A show of confidence in yourself, your government and the Thai public. Your popularity will rise even further after this!

Edited February 23, 2013 by 15Peter20

[JLCrab]

As you can see from this map, the only onshore natural gas production in Thailand is the Phu Horm field near Nam Phong between UdonT and Khon Kaen with an EGAT power plant nearby utilizing such natural gas for electrical production. Just for us rubes.

Edited February 23, 2013 by JLCrab

[bigbamboo]

So KY says that after the 5th we will enter the Songkran holiday period (which doesn't end until the 16th)

So not only 300 baht a day but an extra week's hols for the Thai workers too. No wonder they love her!

Does her boss know about this though?

[Artisi]

So KY says that after the 5th we will enter the Songkran holiday period (which doesn't end until the 16th)

So not only 300 baht a day but an extra week's hols for the Thai workers too. No wonder they love her!

Does her boss know about this though?

Her boss doesn't care, won't affect him in the slightest way.

[Locationthailand]

Cheap shot politicking.

[Buchholz]

Is the sign language lady saying. Not in this life time?

.

.

[473geo]

Well of course Myanmar could just ignore the preventative maintenance for a few years, especially this year as it appears by the earlier commencement there may be a little more work required. Then when it all goes belly up with no notice you will be pleased!! Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions, guess the country will save most by cutting the power to the cities where possible, welcome to the real world guys......but don't let that stop you moaning at the government......of course we could push for a nuclear power station on the outskirts of Chian Mai....and on the eastern seaboard to supply Pattaya and Bangkok .....to safeguard your air conditioned bliss as it were.

Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions,

Mind telling us where these rural communites are that are already equipped for regular outages? They are certainly not here in Esaan.

Were we not informed on this forum only a year ago that there were many rural areas lacking enough electricity supply to charge a tablet?.....and told therefore the tablet idea was ridiculous? My god, Yingluck and the team have fixed this already...amazing .....I was refering to Issan, the outages caused by lightning stikes and electrical storms are quite frequent and candles are always at the ready, frog hunting lamps in a prominent position, or generators on standby if necessary, plus many still purchase fresh food so only the beer is left unchilled, no great shakes a few days without electric, just go to bed early and miss the Thai soaps!!

[Buchholz]

.

I noticed she didn't mention what her own Energy Minister gave as the solution yesterday....

some nice dirty coal burning...

Thai minister favours coal power as solution to demand challenge

Thailand is targeting the development of more coal-fired power plants as it struggles to meet surging demand for electricity. The countrys Energy Minister, Pongsak Raktapongpaisarn, believes Thailand has too much of a dependency on natural gas-fired power and says coal power offers a viable alternative.

The immediate concern for the government has been heightened by the performance of routine maintenance on a gas platform in Myanmar in April.

This will lead to a drop in gas supplies to Thailand of 1.1 billion cubic feet per day, potentially creating a nationwide energy supply shortfall. He said the ministry is looking to build a coal-fired power plant in the resort province of Krabi but has run into opposition from locals.

Power Engineering International - Feb. 22, 2013

http://www.powerengineeringint.com/index.html

.

Edited February 23, 2013 by Buchholz

[rubl]

Have confidence in the government's plan, or as some foreigners here tell us "no great shakes a few days without electric, just go to bed early and miss the Thai soaps!!"

[Bellweather]

Trust me, I'm a Thai politician

I know " confidence in government " is 3 words but it's as much of an oxymoron as ' military intelligence "

It must be true as not only did a Thai politician say it but she's the " real PM " to boot

[OzMick]

Well of course Myanmar could just ignore the preventative maintenance for a few years, especially this year as it appears by the earlier commencement there may be a little more work required. Then when it all goes belly up with no notice you will be pleased!! Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions, guess the country will save most by cutting the power to the cities where possible, welcome to the real world guys......but don't let that stop you moaning at the government......of course we could push for a nuclear power station on the outskirts of Chian Mai....and on the eastern seaboard to supply Pattaya and Bangkok .....to safeguard your air conditioned bliss as it were.

Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions,

Mind telling us where these rural communites are that are already equipped for regular outages? They are certainly not here in Esaan.

Were we not informed on this forum only a year ago that there were many rural areas lacking enough electricity supply to charge a tablet?.....and told therefore the tablet idea was ridiculous? My god, Yingluck and the team have fixed this already...amazing .....I was refering to Issan, the outages caused by lightning stikes and electrical storms are quite frequent and candles are always at the ready, frog hunting lamps in a prominent position, or generators on standby if necessary, plus many still purchase fresh food so only the beer is left unchilled, no great shakes a few days without electric, just go to bed early and miss the Thai soaps!!

Surely everybody in Isaan will have a generator they bought with all their extra wealth from the rice scam. 18 months down, they are rich 3 times over!

Edited February 23, 2013 by OzMick

[473geo]

Well of course Myanmar could just ignore the preventative maintenance for a few years, especially this year as it appears by the earlier commencement there may be a little more work required. Then when it all goes belly up with no notice you will be pleased!! Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions, guess the country will save most by cutting the power to the cities where possible, welcome to the real world guys......but don't let that stop you moaning at the government......of course we could push for a nuclear power station on the outskirts of Chian Mai....and on the eastern seaboard to supply Pattaya and Bangkok .....to safeguard your air conditioned bliss as it were.

Once again of little impact on the rural communities who are already equipped for regular outage due to weather conditions,

Mind telling us where these rural communites are that are already equipped for regular outages? They are certainly not here in Esaan.

Were we not informed on this forum only a year ago that there were many rural areas lacking enough electricity supply to charge a tablet?.....and told therefore the tablet idea was ridiculous? My god, Yingluck and the team have fixed this already...amazing .....I was refering to Issan, the outages caused by lightning stikes and electrical storms are quite frequent and candles are always at the ready, frog hunting lamps in a prominent position, or generators on standby if necessary, plus many still purchase fresh food so only the beer is left unchilled, no great shakes a few days without electric, just go to bed early and miss the Thai soaps!!

Surely everybody in Isaan will have a generator they bought with all their extra wealth from the rice scam. 18 months down, they are rich 3 times over!

You think Mick? had to buy them to charge the Tablets? and their Ipods? and watch the soaps? it's a bit of a downer when you don't have facilities for the little luxuries in life like watching TV, quite widespread last year I heard.....lack of electricity...thank god for the increase in the per kg rate for rice, seems to have made the difference, especially as now they are all apparently connected .....good point.......probably need electric for their air con too!

[OzMick]

I would be more confident in the government if an announcement was made as to how many gas tanker ships had been contracted to arrive during this period to alleviate the shortfall. I suspect the answer is NONE.