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Published on September 5, 2007

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) expects to finalise the site for its new coal-fired power plant by the end of this year and plans to raise acceptance from nearby communities.

The state agency is also setting up a new department to accommodate investment in nuclear plants, which is expected to draw stronger protests than those for coal-fired plants. About 100 employees will be recruited for the department.

Egat governor Kraisri Karnasuta said on the sidelines of the Power-Gen seminar yesterday that the coal-fired plant would be equipped with technology that reduces toxic emissions by 99 per cent and that only high-quality coal from Australia and Indonesia would be used.

"Raising public participation is an important element and it is part of the environmental impact assessment (EIA)," he said. "The best technology and high-quality fuel will raise the plant's development cost, but it's necessary to assure the public of the zero environmental impact. We can live together."

Egat will proceed with the construction of two coal-fired plants on a single site that will have a capacity of 800 megawatts each. Each will take seven years to construct. Under the power development plan, Egat will build four coal-fired plants.

His comments came after IRPC faced protests from Rayong residents over its plan to build a coal-fired plant in the province. At press time, about 4,000 residents were still gathered in front of its facility, with 10 tents put up along Sukhumvit Road.

In regard to the protests against IRPC's plan, Kraisri said it was necessary to give as much information as possible on the new technology to the public. He believes that the public would then welcome the investment.

IRPC adviser Banchorn Chavansil yesterday called a press conference in Rayong, saying that IRPC would not give in to the protesters' demands.

"They did not demand a negotiation but an ultimatum. The only thing they want is to have [CEO] Piti Yimprasert confirm that IRPC will not join the power-generating bidding. IRPC considers that this is unfair to the company, which acts on honesty and in line with the government's policy. We cannot honour the ultimatum despite our concerns for the Rayong people who joined the protest," Banchorn said.

IRPC's facility in Rayong has been blocked by over 10,000 protesters since Monday.

They have demanded the company drop its plan to join the independent power producer (IPP) bidding whereby private generators are welcomed to bid to generate 3,200 megawatts.

Banchorn said the IPP bidding was organised by the government and it would only withdraw from the bidding if the project does not meet environmental standards and fails to win acceptance from Rayong people.

"It's groundless to say we have prepared a site for the plant. To date, it's not yet final whether we will join the bidding. If we join, it's uncertain that we would win. It's impossible to invest in advance without a good reason," Banchorn said.

Protesters also demanded the removal of Rayong's governor for his failure to show up at the scene.

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