Locals in deep South fight plan for coal-power plant

[rooster59]

Locals in deep South fight plan for coal-power plant

PATTANI: People in Pattani province and neighbouring areas yesterday have set up a network to take action against the construction of a coal-fired power plant in Songkhla’s Thepha district.

They claim the plant will pose a threat to national security as well as people's health and livelihood in the deep South.

During the launch at a community centre in Pattani's Nong Chik district, 200 participants were told about the negative impacts, including claims that the plant would deal another blow to the region's yet-to be-solved unrest. The network, namely Permatamas, has several coordinators, including Tuwaedaniya Tuwaemae-ngae, director of the Patani Raya Bureau for Peace and Development.

Tuwaedaniya said academics would deliver speeches in Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala as well as Songkhla's four districts about the impact so as to get local participation in its efforts to stall or suspend the project.

Claiming that people's health and environment may be affected by smoke laced with heavy metal, he said the Thepha project study only took nine months, compared to the Krabi project's four years, and all details were not revealed to the public.

If this state enterprise project goes ahead without the national security agency making it a national security agenda, it could cause discontent and distrust, which could lead to new conflicts, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Locals-in-deep-South-fight-plan-for-coal-power-pla-30276017.html

-- The Nation 2016-01-03

[fxe1200]

The only reason EGAT wants to install coal-fired power plants, is their greed. If they would switch to thermo-solar energy systems (smaller units to be installed on rooftops of supermarkets to supply power for the air condition), and promote solar water heaters, they would sell less energy, though for a higher price. The result would be a cut in sales and earnings of EGAT. Greed to the disadvantage of the atmosphere.

[Krataiboy]

So much for this administration's heinous fast-tracking policy for controversial mega projects. Act in haste. . .

[Ulic]

Everybody wants electric power, nobody wants power plants. NIMBY. That said building a coal

powered plant is a mistake. Gas powered plants are more environmentally friendly. I think

they should look closely at the garbage burning ultra clean (no smoke stack) plants that

have been developed in Scandinavian countries. Help get rid of the garbage and stop it from

entering the oceans while providing needed electricity. As for solar panels they are still not

financially viable but if a company wanted to install then on roof tops they should be

encouraged. No duty, no taxes. Probably, there would not be many takers, but you never

know.

[Srikcir]

As yet solar power cannot provide a sustainable 24-hour grid power supply and solar operating capacity is only about 1/3 of convential power generation plants.

Natural gas is great if the country had an abundant supply - which it does not. National supply to runout in 6 years.

Nuclear power is the cheapest source of energy on a kw basis (about 1/4 the cost for solar power) but requires a 10-year long lead schedule - Thailand people historically oppose nuclear power.

Coal-fired power plants are doable in the interim with sufficient environmental equipment and disposal processes. But it appears that Egat is relying only on "clean coal" to solve any environmental impact from plant emissions. There is scientifically no such thing as clean coal. In fact for efficient burning coal must be pounded into a powder that produces heavy CO₂ and particulant emissions that make it extremely "dirty."

It is the responsibility of the government to guarantee that this plant have ALL the necessary environmental monitoring and controls in place to protect citizens. It is also the government's responsibility to educate and convince the public that environmental mitigation measures will be effective. To date however, the government has shown itself to be an advocate of Egat and not an advocate of the People - something you would not see were the government elected by the People.

[robblok]

As yet solar power cannot provide a sustainable 24-hour grid power supply and solar operating capacity is only about 1/3 of convential power generation plants.

Natural gas is great if the country had an abundant supply - which it does not. National supply to runout in 6 years.

Nuclear power is the cheapest source of energy on a kw basis (about 1/4 the cost for solar power) but requires a 10-year long lead schedule - Thailand people historically oppose nuclear power.

Coal-fired power plants are doable in the interim with sufficient environmental equipment and disposal processes. But it appears that Egat is relying only on "clean coal" to solve any environmental impact from plant emissions. There is scientifically no such thing as clean coal. In fact for efficient burning coal must be pounded into a powder that produces heavy CO₂ and particulant emissions that make it extremely "dirty."

It is the responsibility of the government to guarantee that this plant have ALL the necessary environmental monitoring and controls in place to protect citizens. It is also the government's responsibility to educate and convince the public that environmental mitigation measures will be effective. To date however, the government has shown itself to be an advocate of Egat and not an advocate of the People - something you would not see were the government elected by the People.

I doubt an normal government in Thailand would have done it different. But I do like how you put the information about the other options. Fact is that everyone want cheap energy and nobody wants to pay more ad to that that nobody wants a powerplant in their backyard and there are bound to be problems.

Unlike you I doubt that an elected government would have done it differently, because nobody wants to increase the price of energy.

[Travelman868]

Everybody wants electric power, nobody wants power plants. NIMBY. That said building a coal

powered plant is a mistake. Gas powered plants are more environmentally friendly. I think

they should look closely at the garbage burning ultra clean (no smoke stack) plants that

have been developed in Scandinavian countries. Help get rid of the garbage and stop it from

entering the oceans while providing needed electricity. As for solar panels they are still not

financially viable but if a company wanted to install then on roof tops they should be

encouraged. No duty, no taxes. Probably, there would not be many takers, but you never

know.

Can only agree

[GOLDBUGGY]

As yet solar power cannot provide a sustainable 24-hour grid power supply and solar operating capacity is only about 1/3 of convential power generation plants.

Natural gas is great if the country had an abundant supply - which it does not. National supply to runout in 6 years.

Nuclear power is the cheapest source of energy on a kw basis (about 1/4 the cost for solar power) but requires a 10-year long lead schedule - Thailand people historically oppose nuclear power.

Coal-fired power plants are doable in the interim with sufficient environmental equipment and disposal processes. But it appears that Egat is relying only on "clean coal" to solve any environmental impact from plant emissions. There is scientifically no such thing as clean coal. In fact for efficient burning coal must be pounded into a powder that produces heavy CO₂ and particulant emissions that make it extremely "dirty."

It is the responsibility of the government to guarantee that this plant have ALL the necessary environmental monitoring and controls in place to protect citizens. It is also the government's responsibility to educate and convince the public that environmental mitigation measures will be effective. To date however, the government has shown itself to be an advocate of Egat and not an advocate of the People - something you would not see were the government elected by the People.

Natural Gas can be in abundant supply if Thailand built a few LNG Import Terminals. Japan has plenty of them and generate a lot of Electricity this way. So it is already and old and proven technology.

LNG is a clean burning fuel and also has very competitive prices and far cheaper than Solar or Wind. Thailand sits close to 2 large LNG Exporters as in Malaysia and Australia, so low shipping costs as well. Thailand really shouldn't have to depend on other countries pipelines or prices to get Natural Gas.They could have plenty of there own if they only plan ahead.

[Ricardo]

Coal-fired power plants are doable in the interim with sufficient environmental equipment and disposal processes. But it appears that Egat is relying only on "clean coal" to solve any environmental impact from plant emissions. There is scientifically no such thing as clean coal. In fact for efficient burning coal must be pounded into a powder that produces heavy CO₂ and particulant emissions that make it extremely "dirty."

It is the responsibility of the government to guarantee that this plant have ALL the necessary environmental monitoring and controls in place to protect citizens. It is also the government's responsibility to educate and convince the public that environmental mitigation measures will be effective. To date however, the government has shown itself to be an advocate of Egat and not an advocate of the People - something you would not see were the government elected by the People.

"something you would not see were the government elected by the People"

If only that were true.

Previous governments have also failed to force much improvement of the Mae Mo lignite-burning power-station near Lampang, which is well known for the smog it produces, and its effects on locals' health, indeed it may be expanded because it's cheaper than gas-fueled production !

Which says a lot about Thailand's level of environmental-concern, when in pursuit of cheap-electricity, sadly.

http://www.egat.co.th/en/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=36&Itemid=117

Funny that there's no smoke coming out of the chimneys, in EGAT's photo, eh ?

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Egat-mulls-bigger-output-for-lampang-power-plant-30198288.html

Edited January 22, 2016 by Ricardo