Egat in Turnaround to Buy BLCP Power
Bangkok Post, Sunday, February 12, 2003
Decline in reserves spurs increase in electricity demand
By: Yuthana Praiwan The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has reversed its decision and is now set to buy electricity from BLCP Power Co as originally scheduled.
Earlier, Egat had put off purchasing power from BLCP Power, an independent power producer owned by Banpu Plc, for three years from the original schedule set between 2006 and 2007 due to an anticipated electricity oversupply.
Sithiporn Rattanopas, Egat's governor, said Egat and BLCP Power had agreed on purchases from the 1,346.5-megawatt coal-fired power plant under construction at Map Ta Phut in Rayong province, in 2006 for the first power-generating unit and 2007 for the second unit.
The turnaround came after the country's power reserves began to drop due to a significant rise in electricity demand. Power consumption unexpectedly reached 16,800 MW last year.
Egat was concerned that power reserves would drop to less than 40% of total output of 22,000 MW due to mounting electricity demand.
It was anticipated that an additional 1,400 MW of electricity was needed in 2006 to ensure stable power supplies or acceptable power reserves of 15%.
The deal went smoothly since there had been no public protests against the BLCP Power project, while Egat did not want to breach the contract with the concessionaire, said Mr. Sithiporn.
Unlike BLCP Power, Egat decided to postpone power purchases from the 734-MW Bor Nok power plant and the 1,400-MW Hin Krut power plant to be developed in Prachuap Khiri Khan, by another three years. Both plants have been the target of protests by environmental and community groups.
Egat will buy electricity from the Bor Nok plant in 2007 and 2008, deferring from original schedules in 2004 and 2005, and the Hin Krut plant in 2008 and 2009, instead of 2005 and 2006.
Losses of opportunities as a result of the three-year postponement will be discussed by Egat's board on Feb 21.
In another development, Egat will develop a solar power plant in Mae Hong Son as a pioneer of the largest clean energy project in South Asia .
Egat signed a contract yesterday with RWE Solutions AG of Germany for 192.38 million baht to build a 500-MW solar power plant to serve future electricity demand in Mae Hong Son.
Present power supply in this northern province is acquired from four small, nearby hydropower
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