Nuclear, coal plants seen as options in Thailand's new Power Development Plan

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Nuclear, coal plants seen as options in new Power Development Plan
Watcharapong Thongrung
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Thailand may welcome more coal-fired power plants and even nuclear power in the next 20 years under the new Power Development Plan, according to the newly appointed director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office.

Samerjai Suksumek said yesterday that more coal and nuclear plants were among the options in the PDP 2013 (2013-2033) to reduce the country's dependence on natural gas.

Under the current PDP, Thailand aimed to generate 13,000 megawatts from natural gas. Under the first option in the new plan, coal and nuclear would take on 2,000MW from natural gas, along with additional power purchases from neighbouring countries. Samerjai believes this option would ensure that the average electricity cost during the

20-year period would be Bt4.50 per unit, lower than cited in the previous plan, thanks to the lower cost of coal and nuclear.

In the second option, in which nuclear power is ruled out, the 2,000MW would be generated by renewable energy sources such as Napier grass.

Moreover, if the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand cannot construct a new coal-fired power plant in Krabi, another round of bidding to buy electricity from independent power producers will be called, or Thailand will have to buy even more power from overseas providers.

Under the current plan, natural gas accounts for 54 per cent of power generation; coal 11 per cent; alternative energy 14 per cent; nuclear 3 per cent; hydropower 6 per cent; and overseas suppliers 12 per cent. Under the new plan, the natural-gas proportion will fall, while those of coal and overseas supply will rise.

Despite the lower gas contribution, PTT will be required to continue importing liquefied natural gas, Samerjai said.

Against fears that higher reliance to overseas-sourced power could jeopardise national energy security, he insisted that experiences in Europe during World War II proved otherwise. Despite the war, power supplies were not disrupted.

He also quashed the expectation that the planned high-speed rail system would boost electricity demand.

"We don't expect that to happen. As such, the power-generation plan in the new PDP should remain the same, with about 55,000MW in new supply to come during the years. The only difference is that in lieu of gas-fired plants, which are more costly, there will be more coal-fired power plants and more supplies from neighbouring countries," he said.

Samerjai also foresees the opportunity for Thailand to become an electricity-trading hub, thanks to the transmission linkages with other Asean nations and China.

The PDP 2013 lays out the outlook for electricity generation plan from this year through 2033. It will replace the existing PDP, which has been revised three times. The last revision took place in 2010 to reflect the government's policies to boost the proportion of renewable energy to 25 per cent of power consumption and to introduce more electricity-driven mass-transit routes.

The PDP 2013 should be ready for the National Energy Policy Council's consideration by the end of the year.


-- The Nation 2013-10-22

[krisb]

Thailand and nuclear together in the same sentance. That's a worry.

[davehowden]

Why coal and not Solar, Luddites!

[soi41]

Thailand buy your submarines, your Gripen fighters and your high-speed-train, but have mercy, do not even think about nuclear energy!!

It would be safer in the hand of the Taliban!!

[NongKhaiKid]

Thailand buy your submarines, your Gripen fighters and your high-speed-train, but have mercy, do not even think about nuclear energy!!

It would be safer in the hand of the Taliban!!

Forget if the most stringent specifications imaginable were drawn up as with all the corruption, use of sub-standard materials and shoddy workmanship coupled with bent civil servants happy to sign off on certification this country would be a nuclear accident waiting to happen.

[jaltsc]

Thailand hasn't mastered grounded electricity yet, and they are discussing nuclear power . For the sake of public safety, they really shouldn't be allowed to handle anything invented after 1885.

Edited October 22, 2013 by jaltsc

[MaxLee]

Thailand is just running out of funds to borrow energy resources from foreign countries, and now they say "Oops, our budget is empty, we didn't know." <- means literally, the energy ministries don't know what to do, so they just came up with nuclear power chitti chitti chat chat and environmental endangering coal plants which consume way more energy....

So in short I think it's very possible that Thailand will face more severe problems than tornado storm floorings, heat waves and political coup uproars...

Thailand is running out of energy....

[JoeThePoster]

Samerjai also foresees the opportunity for Thailand to become an electricity-trading hub

I'd be shocked if they didn't think about that.

[FarangTalk]

They have a bad case of iwantitis in Thailand, and there's no cure.

In the majority of cases the disease is often fatal and life threatening, but others emerge unscathed and with vast wealth.

[monkey4u]

I guess the words to Jimmy Buffetts song volcano could be changed to

I dont know where Im going to go when the nuclear power plant blows up

[monkey4u]

Thailand and nuclear together in the same sentance. That's a worry.

No doubt the person in charge will be a Homer Simpson look a like

[Tatsujin]

Oh, god, no. Conquer the other elements first, please!

[BudRight]

If Japan, the US and the Soviet Union can screw up nuclear power, I'm sure the Thais can too.

Edited October 22, 2013 by BudRight

[KRaymond]

When that things is really constructed in Thailand, Imma leaving South East Asia.

[bangon04]

Thailand and nuclear together in the same sentance. That's a worry.

"Samerjai also foresees the opportunity for Thailand to become an electricity-trading hub, thanks to the transmission linkages with other Asean nations and China"

China will be happy to trade their nuclear waste storage for old rice, probably.

[bangon04]

Thailand is just running out of funds to borrow energy resources from foreign countries, and now they say "Oops, our budget is empty, we didn't know." <- means literally, the energy ministries don't know what to do, so they just came up with nuclear power chitti chitti chat chat and environmental endangering coal plants which consume way more energy....

So in short I think it's very possible that Thailand will face more severe problems than tornado storm floorings, heat waves and political coup uproars...

Thailand is running out of energy....

How efficiently can you burn rice? Does it need to be aged first?

[HerbalEd]

Thailand buy your submarines, your Gripen fighters and your high-speed-train, but have mercy, do not even think about nuclear energy!!

It would be safer in the hand of the Taliban!!

Forget if the most stringent specifications imaginable were drawn up as with all the corruption, use of sub-standard materials and shoddy workmanship coupled with bent civil servants happy to sign off on certification this country would be a nuclear accident waiting to happen.

Any and all nuclear plants ... in any country in the world ... is a nuclear accident waiting to happen. Just look at the history of nuclear accidents already.

[Emdog]

I think this is just a way to get the farangs to leave. I know it would work for me. I can put up with the usual corruption, sloppiness, self serving rot, but a nuke plant and it is bye bye time for me. And check the wind charts before picking next landing site.

[Spare]

The Dam protesters were secretly funded by the government, so that she has an excuse to go Nuclear.

[Scott]

A post with large font has been removed.

[casindonet]

Another day, another HUB. Seriously, Thailand + nuclear = disaster waiting to happen

[belg]

thailand should develop :

flood water energy

nr1 in the world

[zyphodb]

Thailand??? Nuclear??? Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ChrisY1]

Can't imagine that Nuclear energy would ever get off the ground in Thailand....the IAEA would have huge issues allowing fuel to be supplied....which would mean fuel would need to be obtained elsewhere..as with Iran presently. This would draw massive criticism from the international community.

Coal and gas fired power stations are really the only options in the foreseable future here.....and probably privately owned and operated.

In reality...the government will likely bumble on as they are for the next few years.....unable to make a determined decision!

[khunken]

There's an awful lot of ignorance about Thailand & nuclear power in this thread.

First - read the Op - the country already generates power from a nuclear source.

Second there is already a nuclear generator in Bangkok - not very far from Don Muang airport.

Third - the number of nuclear accidents causing loss of life and radiation injuries afterwards pales into insignificance compared to those killed in coal mines and health-related injuries to those living in the vicinity of a coal-fired generator.

This is a continuing attempt by the government to impose coal-fired power stations on people who just don't want them. The NIMBY effect. And with justification with the lampun (or is it Lampang?) power station causing serious health problems to locals.

Personally given a poor choice, I would live next to a nuclear station in preference to a coal-fired one.

The country could, by using some of the huge subsidies, the B2,2tn & the B350bn - more worthily, get some larger alternative energy projects off the ground. Now that could even turn the country into a real hub.

[ChrisY1]

There's an awful lot of ignorance about Thailand & nuclear power in this thread.

First - read the Op - the country already generates power from a nuclear source.

Second there is already a nuclear generator in Bangkok - not very far from Don Muang airport.

Third - the number of nuclear accidents causing loss of life and radiation injuries afterwards pales into insignificance compared to those killed in coal mines and health-related injuries to those living in the vicinity of a coal-fired generator.

This is a continuing attempt by the government to impose coal-fired power stations on people who just don't want them. The NIMBY effect. And with justification with the lampun (or is it Lampang?) power station causing serious health problems to locals.

Personally given a poor choice, I would live next to a nuclear station in preference to a coal-fired one.

The country could, by using some of the huge subsidies, the B2,2tn & the B350bn - more worthily, get some larger alternative energy projects off the ground. Now that could even turn the country into a real hub.

Just where does Thailand generate energy from a nuclear source??....

A "nuclear generator" near Don Meuang...??

There is a small research reactor at the Atom for Peace facility adjacent to Kasetsart University....does not generate power....

[Robby nz]

Could this have something to do with the govt backing or at least not protesting over the Lao plans to build 2 dams on the Mekong River?

They already buy power from Lao so these dams would be to generate power for sale as Lao has no need for any more.

[XINLOI]

@Khunken, Thailand does not have any nuke power plants. There are 5 in the planning stages but coming online, if and when, won't be until 2026 and that one will be the first. Check Wikipedia, got a good write up on it. Their info was reported Jan 2013.

[Mangosteen1]

Nuclear!!!! common its not the future. look what happened in Japan. Imagine a flood catastrophe in Thailand. you will be eating nuclear-rice for thousands of years.

Solar energy thats the future.

[hhiser]

What about hydroelectric, with the number of dams in Thailand you would expect a significant percent of of power generation would be acquired through hydroelectric.