Krabi holds meeting to discuss planned coal power plant dispute

[webfact]

Krabi holds meeting to discuss planned coal power plant dispute

 

KRABI, 7 March 2017 (NNT) - The Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand (KNIT) in Krabi province has organized a meeting to discuss the planned coal power plant with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT). 

Chuan Phuklaluan, Chairman of KNIT in Krabi, presided over the meeting, which assembled experts from private organizations, former heads of provincial state agencies, and a committee from EGAT. 

EGAT Governor Kornrasit Pakchotanon delivered a presentation on the planned coal power plant, as well as the planned construction of a pier at Baan Khlong Lua. He spoke of the need for national energy security, given the rise of electricity consumption. Currently, 20 percent of EGAT's electricity output comes from coal. The Krabi power plant will increase that proportion to 23 percent, reducing Thailand's reliance on natural gas, which will come down to 37 percent. 

Electricity consumption in the southern region peaked on April 28th last year at 2.7 Gigawatts, nearing its production capacity of 3.1 Gigawatts. The record indicates future risks to energy consumption in the future. Coal is a low-cost method of producing energy that will not burden household electricity bills, although EGAT has expressed willingness to support alternative energy sources as well. 

Meanwhile, Vice Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Wattana Thanasakcharoen remarked that EGAT must provide truthful accounts of the potential impacts of its projects, as well as their solutions, given the previous impact of coal power on local populations. He encouraged those in opposition of the new power plant to be willing to listen to other viewpoints in order to find common ground.

 

-- nnt 2017-03-07

[Srikcir]

18 hours ago, webfact said:

He encouraged those in opposition of the new power plant to be willing to listen to other viewpoints in order to find common ground.

NO.

It is EGAT that must listen to find common ground as the opposition as it and the government refuse to do so. No one denies that Thailand needs more electrical power sources. Additional power generation has been part of the national energy strategy since 2010. That's not the issue in Krabi. The issue is environmental pollution and disruption of life style that will come from the planned coal-fired power plant. EGAT admits it can build somewhere else, even using cleaner gas-powered electric plants.

So maybe EGAT needs to move on, not the people.

Not to do so might imply hidden corruptive forces at play with building this plant in Krabi.

[12DrinkMore]

Knowledge Network Institute of Thailand (KNIT) 

 

I've never heard of the NITS before.

 

Must be quite a small network?

[welshissan]

I believe the good general has approved the construction of the coal fired powerstation. over the cleaner, more environmentally friendly gas powered powerstation! 

What effect is this going to have on peoples health, lives, and of course tourism in the Krabi area? 

[fxe1200]

EGAT is only out to make some quick bucks, using cheap coal from China, and the Junta needs money desperately.

 

The plant would start producing electricity within six years from the start of the construction. A time when - hopefully - a lot of industries and private households have changed to LED Lighting and solar panels, either for hot water or photo voltaic produced electricity, or in case of bigger companies the use of thermo-solar units on their roofs, to feed the air condition and light indoors during daytime.

 

I could slash my own electric bill and save now more than 30% on electricity just by changing the Neon tubes (36Watt) to LED tubes(18Watt). They have the same output expressed in Lumen and a much longer life span.

 

Here the Junta should pull out the Article 44 and and force everybody to use LEDs, as well as support the use of solar power, which we do have in abundance. The growing solar industry would probably generate more jobs and taxes, than a medieval power plant.

 

[elgordo38]

On 3/7/2017 at 3:37 PM, webfact said:

He encouraged those in opposition of the new power plant to be willing to listen to other viewpoints in order to find common ground.

A loaded statement if I ever heard one. Playing out like the "We are not buying any submarines" story. Its not common ground they seek its their way or the highway. All disguised to look like a democratic way of doing things.