The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) expects another two years of delays to its two new gas-fired power plants because of the time needed to produce environment and health impact assessments (EIA and HIA), said governor Suthat Patmasiriwat.
“These reports require about two years from the initial phase to the start of construction, so we don’t expect to be able to operate the expansion phase of Wang Noi and Chana power plants by 2014 as planned,” said Mr Suthat.
The list of harmful industrial activities drafted by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources included gas-fired power plants.
“Gas-fired power is friendly to the environment and considered a clean fuel. I don’t know why we need to do a HIA and EIA,” said Mr Suthat.
Meanwhile, Egat yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding on power tariffs with developers of the Xe-Pian Xe-Namnoy hydropower plant.
The consortium of developers for the plant includes Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Plc (RATCH), SK Engineering and Construction and Korea Western Power.
The 390-MW project, located in southern
Noppol Milinthanggoon, managing director of RATCH, said the US$877-million hydropower plant will be its fourth plant in
Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com
