THE ENERGY Ministry has given the nod to PTT’s plan to install the fifth natural-gas pipeline from the West of Thailand to the East.
A ministry source said the plan, which was part of the Department of Mineral Fuels’ 21-year natural-gas development plan (2015-2036), had been proposed for the consideration of Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee. The ministry is expected to forward the gas-development plan for consideration of the National Energy Policy Council in September.
The development plan, which will also be put to public hearings, includes the construction of the fifth gas pipeline and a storage tank to handle the greater volume of future imports of liquefied natural gas.
The fifth pipeline will be connected with the existing pipelines in the Eastern and Western regions, completing the regional circuit.
Cutting risks
The fifth line is aimed at reducing risks to electrical-power security, particularly when Myanmar conducts its annual gas-pipeline maintenance, which will affect power production in the East of Thailand. In the future when Myanmar conducts maintenance, Thailand will be able to deliver gas easily from the Gulf of Thailand to the Western region.
The construction of the fifth pipeline is also meant to serve the planned establishment of power plants by Gulf Energy Development, which won the bid to produce 5,000 megawatts in 2013.
The fifth pipeline is expected to be completed by 2021. Gulf Energy is expected to set up the power plants near the fifth pipeline.
The Department of Mineral Fuels drew up two scenarios in its 21-year gas-development plan. If the plan is carried out as anticipated, including the creation of coal-fired power plants and the reduction of natural-gas dependency, the demand for gas late in the plan’s time frame will be 4.344 billion cubic feet per day.
But if the country cannot fully achieve the plan, the demand for gas will surge to 5.653 billion cubic feet per day.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Ministry-okays-construction-of-fifth-gas-pipeline-30265664.html
