The Chiang Rai Court on Friday sentenced 13 demonstrators to six months' jail for leading their supporters to block a road while rallying against the planned construction of a power plant.
The rally was held on July 2 in protest against the building of a privately-run biomass-fired power plant in Wiang Chai district. Each of the 13 defendants - including two women - were also fined 100 baht for blocking the Mae Korn intersection on Phahon Yothin Road and using loudspeakers in a public place without official permission.
The court said such action by the 13 was troubling and showed their disrespect for the law.
Initially, the court had handed them a one-year jail and 200 baht fine, but the punishment was reduced due to their confessions.
The court, however, granted them bail so they could prepare their appeal.
Wiang Chai district chief officer Somchai Rungsakhon said more talks were needed to resolve the conflicts between villagers and the company.
As there were also locals who supported its construction, the company agreed to allow residents of five villages around the plant's construction area to sit on an panel to monitor environmental damage, said Mr Somchai.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
PEA to construct and develop Power system and substation at Mahidol University's Salaya Campus
To cope with an increasing demand for electricity, Mr. Adisorn Kiatchokewiwat, Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) Governor, and Clin. Prof. Piyasakol Sakolsatayadorn, President of Mahidol University's Salaya Campus, signed an agreement to commission the PEA to construct the university's 115-22 kV substation station and develop a 22 kV distribution system. The contract ceremony was held at International Varsity Building, Mahidol University, Salaya Campus, Nakhon Pathom Province. The 73-million-baht contract also includes maintenance and training services at the station and calls for construction to be completed within 240 days from the date that the agreement is signed.
Over the years, the PEA has forged a reputation for providing reliable and efficient electricity and energy-related services to industrial, business and residential customers throughout 73 provinces. Many of the PEA's satisfied customers which have entrusted the PEA to design and maintain their substation and distribution systems include both public and private organisations, such as the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology; Silpakorn University; Metropolitan Waterworks Authority; Siam PTT Exploration Co.,Ltd.; Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy; Central Plaza, Khon Khaen; and Ubon Ratchathani University.
As such, the PEA will continue to provide international standard quality services in order to satisfy all of its customers' needs.
Proprietors seeking reliable services in electricity engineering are invited to contact the PEA's Engineering and Testing Department at 0 2590 9590-6
Over the years, the PEA has forged a reputation for providing reliable and efficient electricity and energy-related services to industrial, business and residential customers throughout 73 provinces. Many of the PEA's satisfied customers which have entrusted the PEA to design and maintain their substation and distribution systems include both public and private organisations, such as the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology; Silpakorn University; Metropolitan Waterworks Authority; Siam PTT Exploration Co.,Ltd.; Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy; Central Plaza, Khon Khaen; and Ubon Ratchathani University.
As such, the PEA will continue to provide international standard quality services in order to satisfy all of its customers' needs.
Proprietors seeking reliable services in electricity engineering are invited to contact the PEA's Engineering and Testing Department at 0 2590 9590-6
Monday, August 24, 2009
A Pride of MEA to Achieve 5 State of Enterprise Awards (SOE Awards) for the year 2009
On August 20-At Centara Grand. As Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) Governor, Mr. Pornthape Thunyapongchai was graciously granted five State of Enterprise Awards 2009 from Mr. Korn Jatikavanich-Finance Minister. These includes Organization management Honorary Award, , Outstanding State of Enterprise Board of Directors Award, Outstanding State of Enterprise Board of Directors Award, Outstanding Organizational leader Award, outstanding Corporate Social and Environmental Responsibility Award as well as Consolation Innovation Award. These awards reflect MEA's commitment to provide excellence service to Thai community nationwide.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
EGCO CALLS FOR LESS DEPENDENCE ON NATURAL GAS
Thailand should not rely too heavily on natural gas for electricity generation to avoid putting national power security at risk, an energy producer said.
Vinit Tangnoi, president of major private producer Electricity Generating (Egco), said the country should strive for the right balance between natural gas and other sources such as coal in generating the electricity.
According to the Energy Ministry's information, 70 per cent of the 148,790 gigawatt hours of electricity the country produced last year was generated using natural gas.
Of the remainder, 20 per cent was generated by coal, 5 per cent by hydro power, 2 pe rcent by imported fuel, 2 per cent by renewable energy and 1 per cent by other fuel.
Vinit's remarks came in response to recent disruptions in gas supply.
The Energy Ministry reported to the Cabinet last week three instances at the gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand and Burma, which had failed to supply gas to Thailand from August 13 to 18.
The gas-transmission system at A18 field in the Thailand-Malaysia Join Development Area was shut down temporarily for maintenance from August 9 to 19, prompting a drop in gas supply to Thailand from the normal level of 400 million cubic feet per day. The system resumed normal operations on August 19.
There was also a leakage of condensate pipelies in the Bongkoch field in the Gulf of Thailand, prompting a temporary shutdown for inspections. The system has since resumed normal operations.
Also, the Yadana gas field in Burma, which supplies gas to the Kingdom, experienced a technical glitch, prompting a temporary shutdown on August 15. The system has resumed normal operations.
The three instances had prompted the coal-fired power plant of BLCP, in which Egco holds 50 per cent, to run at full capacity to make up for the losses in power output.
Due to the three incidents, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand decided to release water from the Srinakarin Dam in Kanchanaburi province in the last two weeks to generate power and avoid a blackout in western Thailand.
This resulted in flooding and the agency said it would take responsibility for the damage.
Earlier, Egat also had expressed concern over the country's heeavy dependence on natural gas in the electricity production.
Seventy per cent of the electricity the country produced last year was generated using natural gas, 20 per cent by coal, 5 per cent by hydro power, 2 per cent by imported fuel, 2 per cent by renewable energy and 1 per cent by other fuel.
Vinit Tangnoi, president of major private producer Electricity Generating (Egco), said the country should strive for the right balance between natural gas and other sources such as coal in generating the electricity.
According to the Energy Ministry's information, 70 per cent of the 148,790 gigawatt hours of electricity the country produced last year was generated using natural gas.
Of the remainder, 20 per cent was generated by coal, 5 per cent by hydro power, 2 pe rcent by imported fuel, 2 per cent by renewable energy and 1 per cent by other fuel.
Vinit's remarks came in response to recent disruptions in gas supply.
The Energy Ministry reported to the Cabinet last week three instances at the gas fields in the Gulf of Thailand and Burma, which had failed to supply gas to Thailand from August 13 to 18.
The gas-transmission system at A18 field in the Thailand-Malaysia Join Development Area was shut down temporarily for maintenance from August 9 to 19, prompting a drop in gas supply to Thailand from the normal level of 400 million cubic feet per day. The system resumed normal operations on August 19.
There was also a leakage of condensate pipelies in the Bongkoch field in the Gulf of Thailand, prompting a temporary shutdown for inspections. The system has since resumed normal operations.
Also, the Yadana gas field in Burma, which supplies gas to the Kingdom, experienced a technical glitch, prompting a temporary shutdown on August 15. The system has resumed normal operations.
The three instances had prompted the coal-fired power plant of BLCP, in which Egco holds 50 per cent, to run at full capacity to make up for the losses in power output.
Due to the three incidents, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand decided to release water from the Srinakarin Dam in Kanchanaburi province in the last two weeks to generate power and avoid a blackout in western Thailand.
This resulted in flooding and the agency said it would take responsibility for the damage.
Earlier, Egat also had expressed concern over the country's heeavy dependence on natural gas in the electricity production.
Seventy per cent of the electricity the country produced last year was generated using natural gas, 20 per cent by coal, 5 per cent by hydro power, 2 per cent by imported fuel, 2 per cent by renewable energy and 1 per cent by other fuel.
DESPITE WARNINGS DAM WAS LEFT TO BURST
Russian authorties were reportedly warned in 1998 that Siberia's massive Sayano-Shushenskaya hydroelectric power plant had fallen into serious neglect anh was unsafe, more than a decade before this week's deadly accident.
The death toll rose to 66 yesterday as rescuers continued to drain the dam's destroyed turbine room and recovered 19 more bodies amid the twisted metal and concrete wreckage from Monday's unexplained explosion.
Nine workers were still missing from teh accident, which has highlighted the dangers of Russia's creaking infrastrucure.
For years, the Kremlin was urged by independent experts and even its own ministries to invest some of its oil-and-gas billions to update Soviet-era infra-structure.
But a lack of expertise combined with government apathy means that not only Russian power plants but dan gerous roads, decaying utilities, ageing transport fleets and creaking buildings continue to take victims as they fall further into disrepair.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who on Friday toured the crippled Sayano-Shushenskaya plant, has acknowledged that Russia must plan for the regular upgrade of "vital parts of infrastructure".
The plant, located 3,400 kilometres east of Moscow, is Russia's largest hydroelectric facility.
Vladimir Tikhomirov, chief economist at the Moscow-based bank UralSib, says Russia has to spend big of it wants to reverse the neglect of the stagnant 1990s.
"It's about more than $100 billion (Bt3.4trillion) to $200 billion if we're talking about all infrastructure -and you can't make it all in one year," he said Friday.
The latest statistics show that as litlte as 7.4 per cent of all equipment in the power sector was replaced by 2007. Studies showed that half needed replacing and 15 per cent was worn out beyoud repair.
Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has said it would cost 40 billion rubles ($1.2 bilion) just to rebuild the plant's damaged turbine room.
Putin on Friday urged the stateowned operator RusHydro to compensate the families of the dead at the plant. RusHydro has already pledged to pay 1 million rubles ($31,300X to the families-a sizeable sum for residents in Khakasia, the remote suouthern Siberian region where the yenisei River dam stands. Putin promised to match the company's payouts with federal money.
Regional emergency ofcial Dmitry Kudryavtsev said nine workers remained missing after teh latest bodies were found Saturday.
"I am almost sure that the remaining missing will be found," he said.
The death toll rose to 66 yesterday as rescuers continued to drain the dam's destroyed turbine room and recovered 19 more bodies amid the twisted metal and concrete wreckage from Monday's unexplained explosion.
Nine workers were still missing from teh accident, which has highlighted the dangers of Russia's creaking infrastrucure.
For years, the Kremlin was urged by independent experts and even its own ministries to invest some of its oil-and-gas billions to update Soviet-era infra-structure.
But a lack of expertise combined with government apathy means that not only Russian power plants but dan gerous roads, decaying utilities, ageing transport fleets and creaking buildings continue to take victims as they fall further into disrepair.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who on Friday toured the crippled Sayano-Shushenskaya plant, has acknowledged that Russia must plan for the regular upgrade of "vital parts of infrastructure".
The plant, located 3,400 kilometres east of Moscow, is Russia's largest hydroelectric facility.
Vladimir Tikhomirov, chief economist at the Moscow-based bank UralSib, says Russia has to spend big of it wants to reverse the neglect of the stagnant 1990s.
"It's about more than $100 billion (Bt3.4trillion) to $200 billion if we're talking about all infrastructure -and you can't make it all in one year," he said Friday.
The latest statistics show that as litlte as 7.4 per cent of all equipment in the power sector was replaced by 2007. Studies showed that half needed replacing and 15 per cent was worn out beyoud repair.
Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko has said it would cost 40 billion rubles ($1.2 bilion) just to rebuild the plant's damaged turbine room.
Putin on Friday urged the stateowned operator RusHydro to compensate the families of the dead at the plant. RusHydro has already pledged to pay 1 million rubles ($31,300X to the families-a sizeable sum for residents in Khakasia, the remote suouthern Siberian region where the yenisei River dam stands. Putin promised to match the company's payouts with federal money.
Regional emergency ofcial Dmitry Kudryavtsev said nine workers remained missing after teh latest bodies were found Saturday.
"I am almost sure that the remaining missing will be found," he said.
Friday, August 21, 2009
2%rise in power use signals recovery
National power consumption is up by 2% this month, the first increase in eight months and a sign of recovery, said Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) governor Sombat Sarntijaree.
Consumption was up to 8,293.7 million units (kilowatt/hours) in the first 20 days of August,2% more than in the same period last year.
"This is the first time that power use has been on the rise since the economic crisis began. Since October last year until last month, power consumption has kept declining in line with the slowdown in industry and consumers' purchasing power," he said.
Power demand was below last year's figures from January to July. Consumption in January was down by 13% to 10,140 million units, in February by 0.03%to 10,862 million, March by 3% to 12,628 million, April by 3.3% to 11,898 million,May by 1.7% to 12,552 million, June by 3% to 12,389 million and July by 2.23%to 12,509 million.
In the first quarter there was a 5.5%decline to 33,615 million units.
Last year power consumption edged up almost 1%, with political conflict and high oil prices curbing growth. This year Egat expects power consumption to shrink by between 2% and 2.5% from 2008, said Mr Sombat.
Until this year, Thailand's power de-mand had fallen only once in the last 25 years - during the financial crisis in 1998, when demand slipped 2% before growing 2% the following year.
"The positive growth of demand was genuinely an indicator for the economy that it was recovered. We hope the positive growth this time will also be the same," said Mr Sombat.
He also said Egat was now assessing the damage in suffered from PTT's gas pipeline leak last weekend and would bill PTT."We handled the immediate crisis by using other fuels instead of natural gas and these fuels were more expensive than gas," he said.
An extra 400 million baht in production costs corresponds to one satang per unit of fuel, he said.
The incident shows that the country badly needs to improve its power management, said Egat deputy governor Somboon Arayaskul."At that time [last weekend], we needed to use reserve capacity,which is about 25% of total power capacity. Yet we had to push hydroelectric generators to work exceeding their limits to control the situation," he said.
This reflected Thailand's excessive reliance on natural gas, which accounts for 74% of fuel used in power generation,creating a high risk of blackouts, he said.
Developed countries balance fuels such as gas, coal, nuclear and hydro.When one fuel is disrupted, the impact is limited and others can compensate.
Consumption was up to 8,293.7 million units (kilowatt/hours) in the first 20 days of August,2% more than in the same period last year.
"This is the first time that power use has been on the rise since the economic crisis began. Since October last year until last month, power consumption has kept declining in line with the slowdown in industry and consumers' purchasing power," he said.
Power demand was below last year's figures from January to July. Consumption in January was down by 13% to 10,140 million units, in February by 0.03%to 10,862 million, March by 3% to 12,628 million, April by 3.3% to 11,898 million,May by 1.7% to 12,552 million, June by 3% to 12,389 million and July by 2.23%to 12,509 million.
In the first quarter there was a 5.5%decline to 33,615 million units.
Last year power consumption edged up almost 1%, with political conflict and high oil prices curbing growth. This year Egat expects power consumption to shrink by between 2% and 2.5% from 2008, said Mr Sombat.
Until this year, Thailand's power de-mand had fallen only once in the last 25 years - during the financial crisis in 1998, when demand slipped 2% before growing 2% the following year.
"The positive growth of demand was genuinely an indicator for the economy that it was recovered. We hope the positive growth this time will also be the same," said Mr Sombat.
He also said Egat was now assessing the damage in suffered from PTT's gas pipeline leak last weekend and would bill PTT."We handled the immediate crisis by using other fuels instead of natural gas and these fuels were more expensive than gas," he said.
An extra 400 million baht in production costs corresponds to one satang per unit of fuel, he said.
The incident shows that the country badly needs to improve its power management, said Egat deputy governor Somboon Arayaskul."At that time [last weekend], we needed to use reserve capacity,which is about 25% of total power capacity. Yet we had to push hydroelectric generators to work exceeding their limits to control the situation," he said.
This reflected Thailand's excessive reliance on natural gas, which accounts for 74% of fuel used in power generation,creating a high risk of blackouts, he said.
Developed countries balance fuels such as gas, coal, nuclear and hydro.When one fuel is disrupted, the impact is limited and others can compensate.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Egco starts up green power
NET PROFIT FOR H12009 vs H12008 B4.6 billion B4.2 billion
Egco Group Plc, Thailand's secondlargest private power producer, will spend 2 billion baht developing renewable energy next year, president Vinit Tangnoi said yesterday.
The company is conducting a feasibility study and seeking equipment suppliers and contractors for the projects.
The plan envisages an eight-megawatt wind turbine project worth one billion baht in Nakhon Ratchasima and a solar power grid with a capacity of 13.5 megawatts in Lop Buri.
Its renewable business will invest through its subsidiary Natural Energy Development Co, the equal-stake venture of Egco, Hongkong-based China Light Power Asia and Diamond General Asia, a subsidiary of the Japanese industrial conglomerate Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.
Although solar power production is not viable commercially at present due to the high cost, the company is hopeful of gaining support from the climate change concern body, the United Nations, in carbon-credit trading.
"We can't sell power from our solar farm, even with the adder tariff (a special purchasing rate that is higher than that for conventional fuels) provided by pol-icymakers to help us shoulder the high cost," Mr Vinit said.
"But we hope if we are success in receiving the certification on carbon credit from the United Nation, the carbon-credit income should be enough to offset the cost and make the project viable."
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has offered special purchasing rates for power generated from renewable energy.
For solar power, producers get eight baht a unit more than the three baht that Egat pays for power generated from mainstream fuels.
For wind power, producers will get an adder tariff of 4.50 baht a unit, Mr Vinit said.
Egco's first-half revenue rose 11% to 19.7 billion baht from 17.7 billion baht a year earlier, with net profit rising 9%year-on-year to 4.6 billion baht from 4.2 billion baht.
He attributed the growth to the additional power output from its newly started-up power plants in Saraburi,Kaeng Khoi Power Plant unit 2 and the Philippines' coal-fired Quezon power plant.
The company also confirmed the startup schedule of its new 1,086-megawatt hydropower plant in Laos, Nam Theun 2, on Dec 15 as planned.
Shares of EGCO closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 75.25 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 22.36 million baht.
Egco Group Plc, Thailand's secondlargest private power producer, will spend 2 billion baht developing renewable energy next year, president Vinit Tangnoi said yesterday.
The company is conducting a feasibility study and seeking equipment suppliers and contractors for the projects.
The plan envisages an eight-megawatt wind turbine project worth one billion baht in Nakhon Ratchasima and a solar power grid with a capacity of 13.5 megawatts in Lop Buri.
Its renewable business will invest through its subsidiary Natural Energy Development Co, the equal-stake venture of Egco, Hongkong-based China Light Power Asia and Diamond General Asia, a subsidiary of the Japanese industrial conglomerate Mitsubishi Heavy Industry.
Although solar power production is not viable commercially at present due to the high cost, the company is hopeful of gaining support from the climate change concern body, the United Nations, in carbon-credit trading.
"We can't sell power from our solar farm, even with the adder tariff (a special purchasing rate that is higher than that for conventional fuels) provided by pol-icymakers to help us shoulder the high cost," Mr Vinit said.
"But we hope if we are success in receiving the certification on carbon credit from the United Nation, the carbon-credit income should be enough to offset the cost and make the project viable."
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has offered special purchasing rates for power generated from renewable energy.
For solar power, producers get eight baht a unit more than the three baht that Egat pays for power generated from mainstream fuels.
For wind power, producers will get an adder tariff of 4.50 baht a unit, Mr Vinit said.
Egco's first-half revenue rose 11% to 19.7 billion baht from 17.7 billion baht a year earlier, with net profit rising 9%year-on-year to 4.6 billion baht from 4.2 billion baht.
He attributed the growth to the additional power output from its newly started-up power plants in Saraburi,Kaeng Khoi Power Plant unit 2 and the Philippines' coal-fired Quezon power plant.
The company also confirmed the startup schedule of its new 1,086-megawatt hydropower plant in Laos, Nam Theun 2, on Dec 15 as planned.
Shares of EGCO closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 75.25 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 22.36 million baht.
Egat under attack over safety of dams
The tourism industry has taken the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to task for failing to warn people about water discharge from Srinakarin dam which caused flooding in Muang district on Saturday.
Surin Chanpian, chairman of the Kanchanaburi tourism association, said the lack of warning from the power agency posed a serious cause for concern for residents of the quake-prone province.
Srinakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams are situated on major faults - Sri Sawat and Three Pagodas - which remain active. There have been widespread fears of dams collapsing when earthquakes strike.
Following Saturday's deluge, Egat issued an apology for the discharge which caused the River Kwai to break its banks and flood residential areas in Muang district.
But Mr Surin said an apology would not save the lives of people living below the two dams if an earthquake hit and caused the dams to burst.
Egat cited a need to increase hydroelectricity generation to offset a production shortfall caused by an abrupt stoppage of gas from Burma.
"An advance warning should have been issued before the production began," Mr Surin said."This is not a natural disaster like an earthquake which is hard to predict.
"It is clear that Egat does not have a plan and massive losses will be unavoidable.
"State agencies have promised to install an early warning system but there is no progress."
Pinant Chotirosseranee, president of the Kanchanaburi Conservation Group,yesterday questioned whether the need to increase electricity production fully explained the flood.
She believed an earthquake in the Indian Ocean off India's Andaman islands on Aug 11 had an impact on the dam.
Mrs Pinant also rejected Egat's claim that the Srinakarin dam was strong enough to withstand a major earthquake.
"If Egat was forced to open the floodgates to release water when all the machines were functioning, there was something wrong with the design," she said.
"So its claim that the dam is designed to withstand an earthquake is very much doubted."
Mrs Pinant called on Egat to reveal all information about the dams and their safety margins to allow local residents to assess risks and prepare for any emergency.
Surin Chanpian, chairman of the Kanchanaburi tourism association, said the lack of warning from the power agency posed a serious cause for concern for residents of the quake-prone province.
Srinakarin and Vajiralongkorn dams are situated on major faults - Sri Sawat and Three Pagodas - which remain active. There have been widespread fears of dams collapsing when earthquakes strike.
Following Saturday's deluge, Egat issued an apology for the discharge which caused the River Kwai to break its banks and flood residential areas in Muang district.
But Mr Surin said an apology would not save the lives of people living below the two dams if an earthquake hit and caused the dams to burst.
Egat cited a need to increase hydroelectricity generation to offset a production shortfall caused by an abrupt stoppage of gas from Burma.
"An advance warning should have been issued before the production began," Mr Surin said."This is not a natural disaster like an earthquake which is hard to predict.
"It is clear that Egat does not have a plan and massive losses will be unavoidable.
"State agencies have promised to install an early warning system but there is no progress."
Pinant Chotirosseranee, president of the Kanchanaburi Conservation Group,yesterday questioned whether the need to increase electricity production fully explained the flood.
She believed an earthquake in the Indian Ocean off India's Andaman islands on Aug 11 had an impact on the dam.
Mrs Pinant also rejected Egat's claim that the Srinakarin dam was strong enough to withstand a major earthquake.
"If Egat was forced to open the floodgates to release water when all the machines were functioning, there was something wrong with the design," she said.
"So its claim that the dam is designed to withstand an earthquake is very much doubted."
Mrs Pinant called on Egat to reveal all information about the dams and their safety margins to allow local residents to assess risks and prepare for any emergency.
EGCO TARGETS MORE REGIONAL POWER PLANTS
Electricity Generating (Egco) is interested in investing in power plants in the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam as part of a plan to maintain its net profit at Bt5 billion per year over the next four to five years.
The company is targeting plants for which the power-purchase agreements with their customers have at least 10 years to run, and whose business is not too large, Egco president Vinit Tangnoi said yesterday.
It hopes to invest at the rate of at least one project every year over the next four to five years, in order to seek new income sources to maintain its net profit at an annual Bt5 billion.
He said the group would however still give top priority to investment in Thailand.
Egco is currently invested in 14 power plants, of which four are overseas. They have a combined capacity of 7,265 megawatts, of which 4,252MW equates to the proportion of its shareholding in the plants.
Of the four overseas plants in which it has invested, three are in the Philippines and the other in Laos - the Nam Theun 2 project.
Sakda Sreesangkom, Egco group senior executive vice president for finance, said the global economic downturn had worked in favour of the company's planned investment in more overseas plants, as the crisis had driven US and European investors in the foreign power-plant business to sell assets in order to ease their debt burden.
Last year, the company acquired 26 per cent of Quezon Power (Philippines). The coal-fired plant has a production capacity of 502MW.
The group is financially ready to invest in further regional power plants, thanks to its cash flow of Bt4 billion, he said.
Egco posted consolidated net profit of Bt1.44 billion for the second quarter, up Bt963 million or 67 per cent over the same period last year. Its consolidated net profit in the first half was Bt4.64 billion, up 9 per cent year on year.
Sakda expects net profit to decline in the second half and over the next four to five years, prompting Egco to seek new investment in order to maintain the annual Bt5-billion level.
The company expects the Nam Theun 2 power plant will realise profit in the second half of next year. The plant has a production capacity of 1,086MW.
The company is targeting plants for which the power-purchase agreements with their customers have at least 10 years to run, and whose business is not too large, Egco president Vinit Tangnoi said yesterday.
It hopes to invest at the rate of at least one project every year over the next four to five years, in order to seek new income sources to maintain its net profit at an annual Bt5 billion.
He said the group would however still give top priority to investment in Thailand.
Egco is currently invested in 14 power plants, of which four are overseas. They have a combined capacity of 7,265 megawatts, of which 4,252MW equates to the proportion of its shareholding in the plants.
Of the four overseas plants in which it has invested, three are in the Philippines and the other in Laos - the Nam Theun 2 project.
Sakda Sreesangkom, Egco group senior executive vice president for finance, said the global economic downturn had worked in favour of the company's planned investment in more overseas plants, as the crisis had driven US and European investors in the foreign power-plant business to sell assets in order to ease their debt burden.
Last year, the company acquired 26 per cent of Quezon Power (Philippines). The coal-fired plant has a production capacity of 502MW.
The group is financially ready to invest in further regional power plants, thanks to its cash flow of Bt4 billion, he said.
Egco posted consolidated net profit of Bt1.44 billion for the second quarter, up Bt963 million or 67 per cent over the same period last year. Its consolidated net profit in the first half was Bt4.64 billion, up 9 per cent year on year.
Sakda expects net profit to decline in the second half and over the next four to five years, prompting Egco to seek new investment in order to maintain the annual Bt5-billion level.
The company expects the Nam Theun 2 power plant will realise profit in the second half of next year. The plant has a production capacity of 1,086MW.
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Green Power on hold
For a country that's right on the equator,relying on solar energy in Singapore seems like a bright idea. Try and get off the grid, however, and it quickly loses its shine.
The tropical city-state's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are similar to Europe,and it imports all its fuel which on paper makes solar power attractive.
"There's a lot of roof top space in almost any housing: Why not have an array of solar water heaters?" said Yatin Premchand of the Singapore Environment Council.
But in reality, solar panels are so pricey it makes little economic sense to get off the grid.
The bulk of Singapore's almost 5 million people also live in high-rise buildings, rather than houses, which makes putting up cells on the roof nearly impossible for individuals.
Solar power garnered increasing attention as oil prices soared last year and as Asian governments are under pressure to help curb climate change.
Singapore is trying to become a hub for the clean energy sector, having attracted Norway's REC to build the world's largest solar manufacturing plant. The government hopes the sector will create 7,000 jobs by 2015 and add S$1.7 billion (40.2 billion baht) to the economy.
But these solar panels will be exported and authorities have provided few local incentives or targets to use solar power, unlike some European countries.
The cost of solar panels are falling amid the economic gloom, but are still considered pricey at about S$50,000(1.18 million baht)for a solar module that generates 10 kilowatts per hour, enough to provide for a family of four.
This means it would take 16 years to break even compared to buying electricity on the grid, said Frank Phua of Singaporean solar manufacturer Sunseap Enterprise. So it comes as no surprise that few commercial buildings use it either.
Manufacturers said the government will have to implement a tariff system that allows users to sell solar energy back to the grid for up to four times the buying cost, in order to attract households or private firms to install panels.
"The positive element of using clean energy is the holistic PR and esoterical value, but it doesn't seem to work in terms of cost benefit,"said Mr Premchand.
Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB), which looks to increase foreign investment, said the country would only use solar power when its price hit parity with the cost of buying it from the grid, which it said could happen next decade.
"Singapore is very much focused on the innovation know-how," said Goh Chee Kiong,EDB's clean tech director."We would like to think we are in a good position to scale up very quickly."
A recent pilot project covered a handful of government housing blocks with enough panels to power lifts, lights and water pumps,but at a cost of S$600,000 for seven blocks.
Ngiam, an electrician who only gave his family name, is one of a few Singaporeans who took the technology in his own hands and installed a solar panel outside his apartment. But he found there was hardly any sun getting through the adjacent tower blocks to his apartment in the densely populated citystate. He dismantled the solar panel in a week.
"We paid nearly S$1,000 and powered only two 20 watt light bulbs," Mr Ngiam said."I did it for my son to play about and for fun, but it did not work well."
The tropical city-state's per capita greenhouse gas emissions are similar to Europe,and it imports all its fuel which on paper makes solar power attractive.
"There's a lot of roof top space in almost any housing: Why not have an array of solar water heaters?" said Yatin Premchand of the Singapore Environment Council.
But in reality, solar panels are so pricey it makes little economic sense to get off the grid.
The bulk of Singapore's almost 5 million people also live in high-rise buildings, rather than houses, which makes putting up cells on the roof nearly impossible for individuals.
Solar power garnered increasing attention as oil prices soared last year and as Asian governments are under pressure to help curb climate change.
Singapore is trying to become a hub for the clean energy sector, having attracted Norway's REC to build the world's largest solar manufacturing plant. The government hopes the sector will create 7,000 jobs by 2015 and add S$1.7 billion (40.2 billion baht) to the economy.
But these solar panels will be exported and authorities have provided few local incentives or targets to use solar power, unlike some European countries.
The cost of solar panels are falling amid the economic gloom, but are still considered pricey at about S$50,000(1.18 million baht)for a solar module that generates 10 kilowatts per hour, enough to provide for a family of four.
This means it would take 16 years to break even compared to buying electricity on the grid, said Frank Phua of Singaporean solar manufacturer Sunseap Enterprise. So it comes as no surprise that few commercial buildings use it either.
Manufacturers said the government will have to implement a tariff system that allows users to sell solar energy back to the grid for up to four times the buying cost, in order to attract households or private firms to install panels.
"The positive element of using clean energy is the holistic PR and esoterical value, but it doesn't seem to work in terms of cost benefit,"said Mr Premchand.
Singapore's Economic Development Board (EDB), which looks to increase foreign investment, said the country would only use solar power when its price hit parity with the cost of buying it from the grid, which it said could happen next decade.
"Singapore is very much focused on the innovation know-how," said Goh Chee Kiong,EDB's clean tech director."We would like to think we are in a good position to scale up very quickly."
A recent pilot project covered a handful of government housing blocks with enough panels to power lifts, lights and water pumps,but at a cost of S$600,000 for seven blocks.
Ngiam, an electrician who only gave his family name, is one of a few Singaporeans who took the technology in his own hands and installed a solar panel outside his apartment. But he found there was hardly any sun getting through the adjacent tower blocks to his apartment in the densely populated citystate. He dismantled the solar panel in a week.
"We paid nearly S$1,000 and powered only two 20 watt light bulbs," Mr Ngiam said."I did it for my son to play about and for fun, but it did not work well."
Fuel sourcing needs rethink
It was most fortunate that no life was lost in Kanchanaburi province over the weekend when the famous River Kwai suddenly broke its banks,inundating many resorts and residential areas,after a large volume of water was discharged from the Srinakarind dam without advance warning. Nevertheless, several resorts and houses were damaged by the unexpected deluge, which raised the water level in the river by almost two metres in some areas.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), which oversees all hydro-electric dams in the country, later issued an apology to the affected victims in Kanchanaburi and promised proper compensation.The power-generating authority also explained that the release of water from the dam was prompted by an emergency situation which involved the sudden cutback of natural gas - reportedly some 1,600 million cubic feet of natural gas from Yadana gas field in Burma and from Bongkot gas field in the Gulf - which is needed each day to feed the power plants to generate electricity.Thus it was necessary to offset the production shortfall via hydro-electric generation in order to avoid a "brown out" which would have inflicted greater and wider damage to the economy. Several hydro-electric dams and power plants fuelled by coal and bunker oil had to increase production during the critical period.
Even though Egat's excuse for the need to open the floodgates to release water from the Srinakarind dam may seem reasonable, it should strive to ensure better safety for the provincial population and their property.An early warning system which alerts people in case of an emergency situation that necessitates the sudden release of water from the dam must be devised and installed. Egat should count itself lucky that this time no lives were lost.
Of greater concern than the threat of flooding downstream of a dam, however, is Thailand's future energy security. The "technical" problem at the Yadana gas field in Burma may have been beyond Egat's control.But a proper explanation is needed from the Burmese side to expel suspicions held by some in Thailand that the incident may have been politically motivated. By chance or by design, the "technical hitch" occurred one day after Thailand circulated a letter to Asean member countries at a meeting in Chiang Mai asking them to adopt a consensus urging the release of prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, following her conviction by the Burmese court for illegally housing an American visitor.
Whatever the real reason for the abrupt stoppage of the gas flow from Burma (which resumed a couple of hours later), the incident should serve as a wake-up call for our energy policy-makers and for Egat to rethink our energy policy, particularly our heavy dependence on gas supplies from Burma.
About 70% of Thailand's electricity is generated by gas-fired power plants, with most of the gas supplied through the pipeline linked to the Yadana field in Burma. Also, all the gas supplied by various sources is just enough to feed the power plants.
In other words, there is nothing in reserve. In case any of the sources is disrupted, the power plants fuelled by gas would have to revert to other fuels such as coal,bunker oil or hydro-electricity.
Given the political instability in Burma and the unpredictability of the military junta, it is too risky for Thailand to put all its eggs in one basket. Attempts must be made to diversify our energy sources and to lessen our lopsided dependence on gas, despite the fact that it is considered the greenest of all the fuels.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), which oversees all hydro-electric dams in the country, later issued an apology to the affected victims in Kanchanaburi and promised proper compensation.The power-generating authority also explained that the release of water from the dam was prompted by an emergency situation which involved the sudden cutback of natural gas - reportedly some 1,600 million cubic feet of natural gas from Yadana gas field in Burma and from Bongkot gas field in the Gulf - which is needed each day to feed the power plants to generate electricity.Thus it was necessary to offset the production shortfall via hydro-electric generation in order to avoid a "brown out" which would have inflicted greater and wider damage to the economy. Several hydro-electric dams and power plants fuelled by coal and bunker oil had to increase production during the critical period.
Even though Egat's excuse for the need to open the floodgates to release water from the Srinakarind dam may seem reasonable, it should strive to ensure better safety for the provincial population and their property.An early warning system which alerts people in case of an emergency situation that necessitates the sudden release of water from the dam must be devised and installed. Egat should count itself lucky that this time no lives were lost.
Of greater concern than the threat of flooding downstream of a dam, however, is Thailand's future energy security. The "technical" problem at the Yadana gas field in Burma may have been beyond Egat's control.But a proper explanation is needed from the Burmese side to expel suspicions held by some in Thailand that the incident may have been politically motivated. By chance or by design, the "technical hitch" occurred one day after Thailand circulated a letter to Asean member countries at a meeting in Chiang Mai asking them to adopt a consensus urging the release of prodemocracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, following her conviction by the Burmese court for illegally housing an American visitor.
Whatever the real reason for the abrupt stoppage of the gas flow from Burma (which resumed a couple of hours later), the incident should serve as a wake-up call for our energy policy-makers and for Egat to rethink our energy policy, particularly our heavy dependence on gas supplies from Burma.
About 70% of Thailand's electricity is generated by gas-fired power plants, with most of the gas supplied through the pipeline linked to the Yadana field in Burma. Also, all the gas supplied by various sources is just enough to feed the power plants.
In other words, there is nothing in reserve. In case any of the sources is disrupted, the power plants fuelled by gas would have to revert to other fuels such as coal,bunker oil or hydro-electricity.
Given the political instability in Burma and the unpredictability of the military junta, it is too risky for Thailand to put all its eggs in one basket. Attempts must be made to diversify our energy sources and to lessen our lopsided dependence on gas, despite the fact that it is considered the greenest of all the fuels.
PROTESTS IN MAE MOH OVER POLLUTION
Hundreds of villagers in Lampang's Mae Moh district have continued to block a road to a power plant in a bid to halt lignite mining, which they say has caused them problems and bad pollution.
The protestors called for the mining license granted to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to be revoked.
They later agreed to open two lanes of the road to traffic but maintained their rally.
District chief Sermsak Seesant said he had ordered an initial probe into the granting of the licence to find out why it had was approved despite a public referendum against it - which would make the approval a breach of environmental laws.
He said the Interior and Energy Ministries had been informed of the dispute over the mining licence matter and would order the operation to stop if the approval broke the law.
Protest leader Saengjan Moolsow said all 1,654 households in the Huay Khing village that she heads were affected by dust fumes, loud noise and annoying vibration generated by the mine operation.
She said the protest would continue until the mine was shut down or Egat made a statement to clarify why the licence to re-start mining was granted.
The protestors called for the mining license granted to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to be revoked.
They later agreed to open two lanes of the road to traffic but maintained their rally.
District chief Sermsak Seesant said he had ordered an initial probe into the granting of the licence to find out why it had was approved despite a public referendum against it - which would make the approval a breach of environmental laws.
He said the Interior and Energy Ministries had been informed of the dispute over the mining licence matter and would order the operation to stop if the approval broke the law.
Protest leader Saengjan Moolsow said all 1,654 households in the Huay Khing village that she heads were affected by dust fumes, loud noise and annoying vibration generated by the mine operation.
She said the protest would continue until the mine was shut down or Egat made a statement to clarify why the licence to re-start mining was granted.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
GROUP SEEKS INVESTIGATION OF EGAT'S LAO PRICING
A consumer interest group has aked a Senate committee and the counter-corruption agency to probe the power-purchase memorandum of understanding between the Hongsa lignit-fired power-plant project in Laos and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.
It said the price Egat would pay to the project for electricity was too high, and asked the state agency to give an official public explanation as to why.
Sutthi Achasai of the People's Network in the East said the group had last week submitted requests to Rotsana Tositrakul,chairman of the Senate corruption investigation committee, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission to look into the matter.
The group asked both agencies to focus on the fact that Egat had adjusted the price for the electricity it would procure from the Hongsa coal-fired plant to Bt2.275 per unit, from Bt2.05.At Bt2.275,the Hongsa project will generate revenue about Bt58 billion throughout its 25-year concession.
The group said the price was too high, when compared with Bt2.10 per unit that Gheco-One's coal-fired plant in Map Ta Phut had agreed for sales to Egat.
Rawi Corsiri,chief operating officer of Banpu, one of the project developers, said the project was unlikely to change the price from Bt 2.275 per unit.
He added that the price adjustment was in line with a hike in construction costs. Despite the price adjustment, the project will not make a higher return on investment,which remains at 10 per cent.
The US$3.7-billion (Bt126 billion)Hongsa plant can produce 1.65 gigawatts. Banpu and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding each owns 40 per cent of the project, while the Lao government holds 20 per cent.
It said the price Egat would pay to the project for electricity was too high, and asked the state agency to give an official public explanation as to why.
Sutthi Achasai of the People's Network in the East said the group had last week submitted requests to Rotsana Tositrakul,chairman of the Senate corruption investigation committee, and the National Anti-Corruption Commission to look into the matter.
The group asked both agencies to focus on the fact that Egat had adjusted the price for the electricity it would procure from the Hongsa coal-fired plant to Bt2.275 per unit, from Bt2.05.At Bt2.275,the Hongsa project will generate revenue about Bt58 billion throughout its 25-year concession.
The group said the price was too high, when compared with Bt2.10 per unit that Gheco-One's coal-fired plant in Map Ta Phut had agreed for sales to Egat.
Rawi Corsiri,chief operating officer of Banpu, one of the project developers, said the project was unlikely to change the price from Bt 2.275 per unit.
He added that the price adjustment was in line with a hike in construction costs. Despite the price adjustment, the project will not make a higher return on investment,which remains at 10 per cent.
The US$3.7-billion (Bt126 billion)Hongsa plant can produce 1.65 gigawatts. Banpu and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding each owns 40 per cent of the project, while the Lao government holds 20 per cent.
Transformer sales to push TRT growth to 26%
The MAI-listed power transformer specialist Tirathai Plc (TRT) expects revenue to increase by 26% this year to 2.6 billion baht, though growth next year is difficult to forecast because of uncertainty about the economic revival and the progress of private and public investment projects.
CEO Samphan Vongphan said the company's revenue in the first half was 1.28 billion baht, up 36.4% from the same period last year, with net profit rising 109.6% to 138.47 million baht.
For the second quarter, TRT reported a net profit of 49.77 million baht, a 32.7%increase. Its gross profit margin rose four percentage points to 26.8%.
Mr Samphan said results were being helped this year by sales of big power transformers and diversification into regional customers.
However, he said, it was difficult to forecast growth for next year due to economic uncertainty, but at least the company would maintain sales growth similar to this year.
Normally, he said, the power transformer market grow at 3% above GDP growth.
The company expects to maintain a gross profit margin at 20-25%.
Tirathai has a backlog of projects worth 2.74 billion baht, of which 2.44 billion will be realised this year and the rest next year.
Government and private projects as well as exports remain as its major revenue sources. Sales from each sector make up about 33%.
Last month, TRT received orders from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand for the biggest auto transformers in the country, at 300 MVA 230/121-11 kV.
The two transformers are worth 200 million baht, with revenue to be realised in the next quarter.
The company plans to bid for a power project worth around 2 billion baht in the next four months, and has a 50%chance of winning, he said.
TRT shares closed yesterday on the Market for Alternative Investment at 5.85 baht, down 15 satang, in trade worth 6.75 million baht.
CEO Samphan Vongphan said the company's revenue in the first half was 1.28 billion baht, up 36.4% from the same period last year, with net profit rising 109.6% to 138.47 million baht.
For the second quarter, TRT reported a net profit of 49.77 million baht, a 32.7%increase. Its gross profit margin rose four percentage points to 26.8%.
Mr Samphan said results were being helped this year by sales of big power transformers and diversification into regional customers.
However, he said, it was difficult to forecast growth for next year due to economic uncertainty, but at least the company would maintain sales growth similar to this year.
Normally, he said, the power transformer market grow at 3% above GDP growth.
The company expects to maintain a gross profit margin at 20-25%.
Tirathai has a backlog of projects worth 2.74 billion baht, of which 2.44 billion will be realised this year and the rest next year.
Government and private projects as well as exports remain as its major revenue sources. Sales from each sector make up about 33%.
Last month, TRT received orders from the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand for the biggest auto transformers in the country, at 300 MVA 230/121-11 kV.
The two transformers are worth 200 million baht, with revenue to be realised in the next quarter.
The company plans to bid for a power project worth around 2 billion baht in the next four months, and has a 50%chance of winning, he said.
TRT shares closed yesterday on the Market for Alternative Investment at 5.85 baht, down 15 satang, in trade worth 6.75 million baht.
Egat to run plants on bunker oil
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand will have to run three power plants on bunker oil after gas transmission from the Arthit Field was halted.
Deputy governor Wirat Kanjanapibul yesterday said in a statement that the field's shutdown had blocked the daily supply of 338 million cubic feet of natural gas to Egat.
Egat plans to resume the gas-fired generators in the Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong district, southern Bangkok and Ratchaburi province tomorrow if the stoppage is fixed by yesterday as expected by PTT.
The disruption followed a similar accident with gas transmission from the Bongkot and Yadana fields in Burma last week. To avoid a blackout in western Thailand due to the stoppage, Egat decided to release water from the Srinakarin Dam in Kanchanaburi province to generate power, which resulted in flooding.
The Cabinet acknowledged the technical problems and was informed that eight villages in Muang district had been affected by flooding, along with three resorts, some raft operations and farming areas.
Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said a committee would be up set to investigate the sudden release of water from Srinakarin Dam.
Deputy permanent secretary Norkun Sitthiphong will chair the committee, which will have seven days to summarise the facts and submit a report. "The committee will find out why the water had to be released and whether the decision was appropriate. It must also come up with preventive measures," he said.
He quashed reports that the floods were caused by earthquakes.
Seventy per cent of fuel for power generation is natural gas.
While the joint development area was closed for annual maintenance from August 9 until today, Egat's Krabi power plant has operated with bunker oil, while its Chana plant has been suspended.
Deputy governor Wirat Kanjanapibul yesterday said in a statement that the field's shutdown had blocked the daily supply of 338 million cubic feet of natural gas to Egat.
Egat plans to resume the gas-fired generators in the Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong district, southern Bangkok and Ratchaburi province tomorrow if the stoppage is fixed by yesterday as expected by PTT.
The disruption followed a similar accident with gas transmission from the Bongkot and Yadana fields in Burma last week. To avoid a blackout in western Thailand due to the stoppage, Egat decided to release water from the Srinakarin Dam in Kanchanaburi province to generate power, which resulted in flooding.
The Cabinet acknowledged the technical problems and was informed that eight villages in Muang district had been affected by flooding, along with three resorts, some raft operations and farming areas.
Energy Minister Wannarat Charnnukul said a committee would be up set to investigate the sudden release of water from Srinakarin Dam.
Deputy permanent secretary Norkun Sitthiphong will chair the committee, which will have seven days to summarise the facts and submit a report. "The committee will find out why the water had to be released and whether the decision was appropriate. It must also come up with preventive measures," he said.
He quashed reports that the floods were caused by earthquakes.
Seventy per cent of fuel for power generation is natural gas.
While the joint development area was closed for annual maintenance from August 9 until today, Egat's Krabi power plant has operated with bunker oil, while its Chana plant has been suspended.
Monday, August 17, 2009
BANPU TO FOCUS ON CORE BUSINESS
Banpu, the country's leading energy firm, expects to conclude its four-year strategic plan next month, resulting in a strengthening of its core businesses by acquiring power plants and coal mines in Indonesia, Australia and China.
The revised plan will cover the period from 2010 to 2013.
Chief executive officer Chanin Vongkusolkit said yesterday that as a result of the global economic crisis, many multinational firms had shifted their focus to core businesses. Some of them have been forced to sell all or some of their investments in this region.
"This is an opportunity for Banpu to acquire power plants and coal mines in the region in order to strengthen its existing power and coal-mining business," he said.
Like other firms, Banpu has revised its strategic plan since the outbreak of the world economic crisis by focusing on its core competency rather than diversifying into other businesses.
"We expect our revised business plan will be in line with the economic recovery," said Chanin.
Banpu yesterday revealed a second-half net profit of Bt8.78 billion, up 101 per cent from the same period last year.
The power business generated Bt6.47 billion and the remainder came from coal-mining.
The company posted Bt26.56 billion in sales revenue, up 34.75 per cent from Bt19.71 billion in the same period last year.
"The reason for posting a doubling of net profit in the first half is having booked selling prices, which were higher than those in the same period last year," said Chanin.
In addition, he said the revenue-sharing of coal business in China was favourable, as coal prices there were still at a high level.
Chanin said that in the first half of this year Banpu had delivered 8.6 million tonnes of coal to Indonesia. Its target for the full year is 20.5 million tonnes.
"However, the company expects its results in this year's second half will not be as good as the first half because of lower coal prices," he said.
He added that the earnings contribution from its subsidiary BLCP's power plant in the second half would be lower than in the first period, as it would have to stop operations for maintenance.
The revised plan will cover the period from 2010 to 2013.
Chief executive officer Chanin Vongkusolkit said yesterday that as a result of the global economic crisis, many multinational firms had shifted their focus to core businesses. Some of them have been forced to sell all or some of their investments in this region.
"This is an opportunity for Banpu to acquire power plants and coal mines in the region in order to strengthen its existing power and coal-mining business," he said.
Like other firms, Banpu has revised its strategic plan since the outbreak of the world economic crisis by focusing on its core competency rather than diversifying into other businesses.
"We expect our revised business plan will be in line with the economic recovery," said Chanin.
Banpu yesterday revealed a second-half net profit of Bt8.78 billion, up 101 per cent from the same period last year.
The power business generated Bt6.47 billion and the remainder came from coal-mining.
The company posted Bt26.56 billion in sales revenue, up 34.75 per cent from Bt19.71 billion in the same period last year.
"The reason for posting a doubling of net profit in the first half is having booked selling prices, which were higher than those in the same period last year," said Chanin.
In addition, he said the revenue-sharing of coal business in China was favourable, as coal prices there were still at a high level.
Chanin said that in the first half of this year Banpu had delivered 8.6 million tonnes of coal to Indonesia. Its target for the full year is 20.5 million tonnes.
"However, the company expects its results in this year's second half will not be as good as the first half because of lower coal prices," he said.
He added that the earnings contribution from its subsidiary BLCP's power plant in the second half would be lower than in the first period, as it would have to stop operations for maintenance.
EGAT SEEKS PRIORITY FOR NATIONAL POWER PLAN
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has urged the Energy Ministry to promote the national power development plan as a national priority.
Egat deputy governor Somboon Arayasakul said yesterday that if the 2009-2024 PDP, which is still under development by the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), is put on the national agenda, not only the ministry, but people in all social sectors would gain the chance to help shape it.
"All interested parties should be provided with the opportunity to participate and debate until they can arrive at a conclusion on which type of power plants should be set up in the future. The conclusion should also be added in the PDP," he said.
This would prevent possible conflicts between Egat and local communities and involved sectors in the future when Egat has to build more power plants under the PDP, he said.
The hiring of the Energy for Environment Foundation by EPPO to study future power demand, which is part of the PDP, is an encouraging move, he said.
This opens the way for the NGO sector, represented by the foundation, to have a role in making up the plan.
EPPO director Veerapol Jirapraditkul said the foundation and the NIDA Business School, which were hired by EPPO to study the GDP growth trend during the next 15 years, were expected to finish their studies this year.
Egat deputy governor Somboon Arayasakul said yesterday that if the 2009-2024 PDP, which is still under development by the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO), is put on the national agenda, not only the ministry, but people in all social sectors would gain the chance to help shape it.
"All interested parties should be provided with the opportunity to participate and debate until they can arrive at a conclusion on which type of power plants should be set up in the future. The conclusion should also be added in the PDP," he said.
This would prevent possible conflicts between Egat and local communities and involved sectors in the future when Egat has to build more power plants under the PDP, he said.
The hiring of the Energy for Environment Foundation by EPPO to study future power demand, which is part of the PDP, is an encouraging move, he said.
This opens the way for the NGO sector, represented by the foundation, to have a role in making up the plan.
EPPO director Veerapol Jirapraditkul said the foundation and the NIDA Business School, which were hired by EPPO to study the GDP growth trend during the next 15 years, were expected to finish their studies this year.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE
Mae Ya Noi is a small Karen hill tribe village about 80km south of Chiang Mai province. To get there, you wind your way to Doi Inthanon National Park, then veer left onto a dirt road. Through soaked rice paddies and dense cornfields, it takes another hour to arrive, crossing narrow pot-holed tracks made muddy by the monsoonal rain - a time when the village is cut off from outside if the rain comes down too fiercely.
Mae Ya Noi is not on the map, so it is not surprising that this village never had electricity.
Yet its remote location did not spare this village from change.
Ten months ago, a 23kW microhydropower plant was built in this village.Constructed by utilising the laws of gravity and the plentiful water supply, it now provides 100 households across three villages with the ability to do what most in Thailand take for granted - turn on a light whenever they want.
Monsit Anurakrimtarn, the village leader,believes it is just the start of things to come.
"With electricity, we can do so many things. For the first time, the temple and village school can function at night as well as during the day. Already we have started classes for older villagers who come after working in the fields. I think the electricity will widen everyone's perspective, teaching them about a world outside Mae Ya Noi."
Mae Ya Noi is not alone. Its very small power plant - producing less than 1MW of electricity - is one of more than 180 very small power plants - fuelled by clean energy like biomass, biogas, wind, and solar, and hydro like this one - dotting the landscape in villages and towns across Thailand. That number is expected to double in the next two years. This explosion of renewable-energy alternatives did not happen by accident. It had its genesis in a forward-thinking decision taken eight years ago.
In 2001, the UNDP Thailand joined forces with the Global Environment Facility and the Energy for Environment Foundation to tackle climate change by promoting the use of renewable energy.
The aimwas to show that Thailand could lessen its dependence on foreign oil and in the process substantially reduce its carbon emissions.
"When the project started, banks were not familiar with the renewable-energy industry. Now that we have shown how successful it can be, banks are actively searching out power plants to invest in,"said Piyasvasti Amranand, chairman of the advisory board of the Energy and Environment Foundation (E for E) and a former energy minister.
With the backing of the Thai government,which provided financial incentives to make the renewable-energy industry more competitive, the project has been a success.
By 2008,1,252MW of renewable-energy capacity - enough to supply households in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces - was operational throughout Thailand. This is an almost-fourfold increase from 1999, and the equivalent of 21% of the power provided by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA).
It's estimated that renewable-energy plants in Thailand have already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5 million tonnes annually. This is the same as taking every one of Thailand's 1.5 million cars off the road for a year.
Mr Piyasvasti believes it's just the beginning."With the existing technology,Thailand should be able to produce about 8,000MW worth of renewable power by 2020. If technology advances and we make greater use of wind and solar power, this figure could be much, much higher."
The small-scale local approach, epitomised by Mae Ya Noi, is having results. In eight years, Thailand has gone from being a renewable-power backwater to a leader in the region.
The Biomass Clearing House - a onestop shop set up by the project to share the latest renewable-energy information - has been so successful that it is pumping more investment into the sector, including wind, solar and hydro projects, through a new Green Energy Mechanism (GEM). It does this by bringing together Thailand's top companies that view investment in renewable energy as not just a savvy business decision, but also a way to showcase their social responsibilities. Like a diner in a restaurant, an investor is now presented with a menu of renewable-energy options.They can choose to put their money into whatever project fits their investment needs.
This is how the people of Mae Ya Noi came to have continuous electricity.Investors in the Green Energy Mechanism provided the capital for the hydropower plant's construction, the Department for Alternative Energy built it, and the local community maintains it and gains the benefit.
To an elderly Mae Ya Noi villager, it's a decision that has had profound effects.
"I'm very happy with the electricity. I can now read when I want and cook when I want. I don't want my life to change too much, but electricity is great."
Adam Sims is a communication officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The article was written on a field trip taken last month.
How are you helping to reduce your carbon footprint?Share your eco-friendly activities or comment or disapproval by emailing outlook@bangkokpost.co.th.Write "Earth Alert" on the Subject line.
"'With electricity, we can do so many things'
Mae Ya Noi is not on the map, so it is not surprising that this village never had electricity.
Yet its remote location did not spare this village from change.
Ten months ago, a 23kW microhydropower plant was built in this village.Constructed by utilising the laws of gravity and the plentiful water supply, it now provides 100 households across three villages with the ability to do what most in Thailand take for granted - turn on a light whenever they want.
Monsit Anurakrimtarn, the village leader,believes it is just the start of things to come.
"With electricity, we can do so many things. For the first time, the temple and village school can function at night as well as during the day. Already we have started classes for older villagers who come after working in the fields. I think the electricity will widen everyone's perspective, teaching them about a world outside Mae Ya Noi."
Mae Ya Noi is not alone. Its very small power plant - producing less than 1MW of electricity - is one of more than 180 very small power plants - fuelled by clean energy like biomass, biogas, wind, and solar, and hydro like this one - dotting the landscape in villages and towns across Thailand. That number is expected to double in the next two years. This explosion of renewable-energy alternatives did not happen by accident. It had its genesis in a forward-thinking decision taken eight years ago.
In 2001, the UNDP Thailand joined forces with the Global Environment Facility and the Energy for Environment Foundation to tackle climate change by promoting the use of renewable energy.
The aimwas to show that Thailand could lessen its dependence on foreign oil and in the process substantially reduce its carbon emissions.
"When the project started, banks were not familiar with the renewable-energy industry. Now that we have shown how successful it can be, banks are actively searching out power plants to invest in,"said Piyasvasti Amranand, chairman of the advisory board of the Energy and Environment Foundation (E for E) and a former energy minister.
With the backing of the Thai government,which provided financial incentives to make the renewable-energy industry more competitive, the project has been a success.
By 2008,1,252MW of renewable-energy capacity - enough to supply households in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan provinces - was operational throughout Thailand. This is an almost-fourfold increase from 1999, and the equivalent of 21% of the power provided by the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA).
It's estimated that renewable-energy plants in Thailand have already reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5 million tonnes annually. This is the same as taking every one of Thailand's 1.5 million cars off the road for a year.
Mr Piyasvasti believes it's just the beginning."With the existing technology,Thailand should be able to produce about 8,000MW worth of renewable power by 2020. If technology advances and we make greater use of wind and solar power, this figure could be much, much higher."
The small-scale local approach, epitomised by Mae Ya Noi, is having results. In eight years, Thailand has gone from being a renewable-power backwater to a leader in the region.
The Biomass Clearing House - a onestop shop set up by the project to share the latest renewable-energy information - has been so successful that it is pumping more investment into the sector, including wind, solar and hydro projects, through a new Green Energy Mechanism (GEM). It does this by bringing together Thailand's top companies that view investment in renewable energy as not just a savvy business decision, but also a way to showcase their social responsibilities. Like a diner in a restaurant, an investor is now presented with a menu of renewable-energy options.They can choose to put their money into whatever project fits their investment needs.
This is how the people of Mae Ya Noi came to have continuous electricity.Investors in the Green Energy Mechanism provided the capital for the hydropower plant's construction, the Department for Alternative Energy built it, and the local community maintains it and gains the benefit.
To an elderly Mae Ya Noi villager, it's a decision that has had profound effects.
"I'm very happy with the electricity. I can now read when I want and cook when I want. I don't want my life to change too much, but electricity is great."
Adam Sims is a communication officer at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The article was written on a field trip taken last month.
How are you helping to reduce your carbon footprint?Share your eco-friendly activities or comment or disapproval by emailing outlook@bangkokpost.co.th.Write "Earth Alert" on the Subject line.
"'With electricity, we can do so many things'
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