Thailand plans to increase coal use in power generation - minister

[misskit]

* To find new coal-fired power plant locations end-2018


* Increase coal's share in power generation to ensure security


* Electricity from renewable to be priced at grid parity


Thailand is expected to increase the share of electricity generated by coal to diversify its fuel mix for power generation, the country's energy minister said.


"The share of coal in our power generation mix is very low at slightly less than 20 percent," Energy Minister Siri Jirapongphan said on the sidelines of the International Energy Forum late on Wednesday.


"We need to diversify the sources of fuel for our power generation. Having a reasonable percentage of coal to be used for power generation would be a necessity in considering the security of fuel supply to our generation system."


Thailand relies mainly on natural gas to generate power, but domestic demand is falling behind consumption, requiring the country to import more piped gas from Myanmar and more liquefied natural gas (LNG).


A plan by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to build coal-fired power plants in the southern Thailand tourist destinations of Krabi and Songkhla has been delayed for years due to opposition from villagers and environmentalists.


"We need to conduct a more global strategic environmental assessment to identify a more suitable location to build a coal-fired power plant that Thailand needs," Siri said, adding that a decision on the plants' locations could be made towards the end of this year.


"In terms of contribution to carbon dioxide generation, Thailand can be considered as one of the lowest in the world," Siri said.


Thailand has promoted the use of renewable energy aggressively over the past 10 years, he said, adding that the share of electricity generation from renewables has reached around 12 percent, which is the highest rate among the countries that make up the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.


"But that achievement came at an expense as we're paying a high rate for generation of electricity from renewable resources," he said.


Authorities increased retail electricity prices by 3.5 percent last year for the first time since 2014, citing rising oil and gas prices.


Falling costs for solar panels has made the renewable resource competitive against fossil fuels.


"We have proven in several pilot projects that we can expand on our success to promote more electricity generation from renewable resources at a price which we call grid parity at 8 cents (per kilowatt hour) on a wholesale basis."


Going forward, Siri said Thailand will only be accepting grid-parity prices of electricity generated from renewable sources.


https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/12/reut...-minister.html

[tomcat]

...obvious questions: Which Thai companies import or mine coal? Which cronies sit on the boards of power-generating companies? Why is nothing about this announcement unusual?
*ohhh: water-splashing day! Sanook!*

[HuangLao]

...obvious questions: Which Thai companies import or mine coal? Which cronies sit on the boards of power-generating companies? Why is nothing about this announcement unusual?
*ohhh: water-splashing day! Sanook!*

Yep. Not difficult to figure out.
Which elite circle will profit the most.

[Klondyke]

Which Thai companies import or mine coal?

Perhaps you do not know that EGAT is the owner of the coal mines feeding the power plants in the North for over 40 years?

[tomcat]

...and who's on the EGAT board?...rt will have an update...

[David48atTD]

A fair bit from this Thai Company I'd hazard a guess.

Banpu is the largest coal producer and distributor in Thailand.
The Company produces typical sub-bituminous and lignite coals, which are suitable for use as a base load fuel for domestic cement
producers as well as utility generators.
Production facilities are located in Lamphun, Lampang and Phayao provinces in the north of Thailand.
Here

Has mines in Indonesia, China and Australia. It's mined itself dry in Thailand.

SET ... https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BANPU:TB

[Troy]

Just be thankful they aren't thinking of going nuclear...

[HuangLao]

Just be thankful they aren't thinking of going nuclear...

That talk has been considered a couple of times recently.
Courted the Chinese with the possibilities.

Seems to me that the Thai establishment is missing the boat as such applies to renewable "green" energy practices - the natural resources are here in abundance.

[tomcat]

the natural resources are here in abundance

...local authorities are rarely impressed by common sense...unless they can personally benefit from its application...

[Klondyke]

Production facilities are located in Lamphun, Lampang and Phayao provinces in the north of Thailand.
Here
SET ... https://www.bloomberg.com/quote/BANPU:TB

Quite interesting statement:

Banpu is the largest coal producer and distributor in Thailand. Production facilities are located in Lamphun, Lampang and Phayao provinces in the north of Thailand. Mining operations in Thailand have been closed since the end of 2008 upon depletion of their coal reserves.

[Klondyke]

...and who's on the EGAT board?...rt will have an update...

As usually, a stupid remark.

I assume that you do not make use of any electricity in your house supplied by EGAT coal power plant - one of the largest in Southeast Asia...

[tomcat]

I assume that you do not make use of any electricity in your house supplied by EGAT coal power plant - one of the largest in Southeast Asia...

...irrelevant assumption...

[Klondyke]

[tomcat]

...irrelevant pic: your confusion, however, is understandable...

[Klondyke]

...irrelevant pic: your confusion, however, is understandable...

What else irrelevant could you say to us?

BTW, the EGAT is a state company. And on its board they are surely no poor people sitting. Unlike as in other "more democratic" countries, especially in those peace-loving companies kindly providing hardware for the "humanitarian bombing".

[David48atTD]

Quite interesting statement:

Banpu is the largest coal producer and distributor in Thailand. Production facilities are located in Lamphun, Lampang and Phayao provinces in the north of Thailand. Mining operations in Thailand have been closed since the end of 2008 upon depletion of their coal reserves.

BANPU owns, or has shares/part ownership in mines in Indonesia, China and Australia

[Mozzbie47]

agree

[Mozzbie47]

Just be thankful they aren't thinking of going nuclear...

Agree

[david44]

A clean sweep Sooty?