Speaking at the "Open House with Economic Ministers" seminar yesterday, Piyasvasti said he was working to ensure that Thailand had sufficient supplies of energy and natural gas in the years to come. This could mean importing more natural gas and more coal power stations, he said.

Asked about the environmental problems of coal-fired power plants during a question-and-answer session, Piyasvasti said it was developed nations that were the major polluters, particularly the United States and Australia, but the government would do what it could to decrease carbon-dioxide emissions.

Thailand will soon launch the second round of bidding to purchase additional power from independent power producers (IPPs). The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), its subsidiaries Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding and Electricity Generating, and other private companies are being wooed to bid for power-generating contracts. It is anticipated that in 2011-2015 Thailand will need about 10,000 additional megawatts. Egat proposes to produce 40 per cent of this additional capacity from coal.

Piyasvasti noted that Thailand was in the process of purchasing power from IPPs, small power-producers (SPPs), renewable power sources (RPSs) and very small power-producers (VSPPs).

"An agreement to buy an additional 2,000 megawatts from Laos should be signed in December," he told the audience, after revealing that Egat had already secured deals for 3,000 megawatts from generators there.

Piyasvasti also vowed to ensure transparency in bidding for power projects at all levels through independent regulators.

"I believe in competition and market forces in equal competition with equal players. Equal competition devoid of favouritism will produce fair prices. This is crucial for the economy," he said.

After this, priority will be given to the implementation of sustainable development in energy consumption, Piyasvasti said. The government will also promote petroleum concessions for the private sector to operate in marginal fields and is in the middle of drafting a petroleum act, he said.

Achara Deboonme

 The Nation