THE NATIONAL Energy Policy Committee yesterday approved in principle a plan to develop the electrical system to cater to the first-phase establishment of special economic zones in six areas.
These SEZs are in Mae Sot, Tak province; Mukdahan’s Muang district; Nong Khai’s Muang district; Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaew province; Khlong Yai, Trat province; and Sadao, Songkhla province. The aim is to ensure sufficient electrical supply to serve these SEZs.
The committee also approved in principle the plans of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) and the Provincial Electricity Authority to improve and construct the power-transmission systems for a total cost of Bt7.35 billion.
The committee also acknowledged the progress of the first phase (2016-17) of the country’s plan to promote electric vehicles (EVs).
Egat is in the process of developing three projects: a pilot project demonstrating the use of electric minibuses and their charging stations; a pilot project on using smart-grid technology to manage electricity use by EVs; and a study of the standards for applying the No 5 energy-saving label to EVs and charging stations.
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority is developing a project to install four charging stations to serve the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority’s pilot electric public buses. The BMTA is procuring 200 electric buses, with their procurement expected to be complete by next April.
Meanwhile, the Energy Regulatory Commission on Tuesday announced that it would buy excess electricity from waste-to-power plants, using the feed-in tariff method, from now until 2019.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Energy-policy-body-gives-nod-to-ensuring-electrici-30292654.html
