The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand plans to invest Bt668.3 billion during 2016-2020.
According to Egat Governor Soonchai Kumnoonsate, the investment is geared towards new power plants as well as an upgrade in the power grid to connect new power plants and new renewable power plants.
The new power plants include the replacement of four generating units at Bang Pakong plant, the coal-fired power plant in Krabi and two more in Songkhla.
In 2016, Hongsa power plant’s third generator will commence operations.
“Our plan is to come up with the best commercial technology to enhance pollution control efficiency for good environment for communities,” he said.
The agency expects power consumption to peak at 28,470 megawatt during the year 2016, or an increase by 4.1 per cent from 2015. Meanwhile, power consumption as a whole is expected to increase by 3.1 per cent on year, based on the 3.7 per cent economic growth forecast by the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Board.
In 2015, 69 per cent of power consumed in the country was generated by natural gas, 20 per cent by coal, 8 per cent by hydropower, 2.4 per cent by renewable energy and 0.6 per cent by others. Though fuel prices remained low, the fuel tariff in the year was cut by only 22.62 satang per unit because the baht weakened against US dollar and lower hydropower, according to Egat.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Egat-to-invest-nearly-Bt700-bn-in-next-five-years-30275919.html
