Thai waste-to-energy projects hindered by opposition

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Thai waste-to-energy projects hindered by opposition
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, July 21 -- Renewable energy initiatives including waste-to-energy and biomass power plants have not made much progress in Thailand due to opposition from local residents, 'influential people' and non-governmental organizations.

Participants in a discussion on renewable energy projects oganized by the Energy for Environment Foundation today mentioned the policy of the Ministry of Energy to increase the contribution of renewable energy to 25 per cent, or 9,200 megawatts of total electricity generation in the country within 2021.

They pointed out that the implementation of the policy to realize the target was behind schedule as renewable energy accounted for only 11.42 per cent of power generation in the country as recently as March.

Waste-to-energy generation amounts to only 47 megawatts compared with the present goal of 160 megawatts due to several problems.

A main problem is opposition from NGOs and local people to biomass and waste-to-energy power plants.

The government has not attempted to convince them of such projects and there are also legal problems concerning community garbage. Besides, influential people control garbage collection services, there are insufficient garbage supplies and politicians and government officials demand bribes.

Pichai Tinsantisuk, chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries' renewable energy industry group, said without government support, operators might export wood waste to South Korea, China and Japan that were ready to buy unlimited amounts of the material for their electricity generation and they offered to buy it at as high as US$150 per ton.

Today a committee on the promotion of green industries under the Ministry of Industry certified three companies as being the best among green industries. They are Siam Cement Lamphang Co, Siam City Cement Plc and Map Ta Phut Olefins Co.

They prove to maintain the “Green Culture” that is acceptable to communities and consumers and create balance between economic, social and environmental dimensions that are key to sustainable development. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-07-21

[GeorgeO]

I can almost hear the General scribbling on his note pad invitations to various parties concerned to come and have a chat ...!!

[selftaopath]

Wow... this is way beyond what is available in our village. We don't even have trash pickup; unfortunately trash is burnt. It might be a great govt. initiative to have all Thailand the luxury of trash removal. Isn't there money to be made from recycling etc?

[dddave]

I saw a television documentary not long ago about the problems now being encountered by European nations that aggressively invested in waste to energy plants.

It turns out that these is now a shortage and competition for "good quality" burnable trash to the extent that some countries now sell and export their trash to nations that now have become dependent on trash for fuel and don't have enough. . Some nations's trash is better than others because they more carefully sort it so it sells for a much higher price.

It also turns out to be not that cheap to do if collection and sorting costs are factored in; more expensive than high grade coal per thermal unit.

[Xonax]

I saw a television documentary not long ago about the problems now being encountered by European nations that aggressively invested in waste to energy plants.

It turns out that these is now a shortage and competition for "good quality" burnable trash to the extent that some countries now sell and export their trash to nations that now have become dependent on trash for fuel and don't have enough. . Some nations's trash is better than others because they more carefully sort it so it sells for a much higher price.

It also turns out to be not that cheap to do if collection and sorting costs are factored in; more expensive than high grade coal per thermal unit.

No shortage of "good quality" burnable trash in Thailand. Years and years of supply is just waiting to be collected in the nature.

[rickirs]

So the government has not attempted to convince people of such projects and there are legal problems concerning community garbage. Influential people control garbage collection services and there are insufficient garbage supplies.

But the main problem is opposition from NGOs and local people? When the message is thoughtless, people will accord the message with what its worth - nothing.

[belg]

i tought thai people already did one part... uncontrollably burning garbage, while you could compost a big part, starting at home ...

[scrapman]

This is the best solution to thailands waste problem.if it is pollution they worry about the rotting masses of waste now cause more pollution then properly controlled waste to energy or biomass.if that bad UK and Europe would not have these plants. I'm COTC waste management.