POST REPORTERS
Bangkok Post
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand plans to co-invest in a new coal-fired power plant in Cambodia to source 3,000 megawatts under a project worth up to US$4.5 billion.
The new project is in line with Egat's plan to diversify its power sources across the region.
Acting Egat governor Santi Sarntijaree said the state enterprise was negotiating with potential investment partners.
''We expect the Chinese government will hold the largest stake. Other stakeholders will be Cambodian authorities and Egat,'' he said.
Under the agreement, Egat would buy all of the electricity generated from the project.
The project would require investment of $4.2 to $4.5 billion, or 142.8 to 153 billion baht.
The figure assumes an average cost of $1.4 million per megawatt.
The electricity from the project is scheduled to link with the Thai national power grid after the completion of the Hongsa lignite project.
Mr Santi said that the project is the first energy collaboration between Thailand and Cambodia after long negotiations.
Previously, the two governments discussed a smaller 1,400-1,600 mw project, but decided on a larger project for cost reasons.
''To buy power from neighbouring countries is our top choice to secure power to meet Thailand's growing demand, particularly in case we are unable to build more power plants,'' he said.
However, power supplies from neighbouring countries still account for less than 20% of total power generation in Thailand.
The new project is in line with Egat's plan to diversify its power sources across the region.
Acting Egat governor Santi Sarntijaree said the state enterprise was negotiating with potential investment partners.
''We expect the Chinese government will hold the largest stake. Other stakeholders will be Cambodian authorities and Egat,'' he said.
Under the agreement, Egat would buy all of the electricity generated from the project.
The project would require investment of $4.2 to $4.5 billion, or 142.8 to 153 billion baht.
The figure assumes an average cost of $1.4 million per megawatt.
The electricity from the project is scheduled to link with the Thai national power grid after the completion of the Hongsa lignite project.
Mr Santi said that the project is the first energy collaboration between Thailand and Cambodia after long negotiations.
Previously, the two governments discussed a smaller 1,400-1,600 mw project, but decided on a larger project for cost reasons.
''To buy power from neighbouring countries is our top choice to secure power to meet Thailand's growing demand, particularly in case we are unable to build more power plants,'' he said.
However, power supplies from neighbouring countries still account for less than 20% of total power generation in Thailand.
9 comments:
The Thaicong chose to build dirty coal power plant in Cambodia is such a smart move because in the long run it is the Cambodian population who will be suffering the most from the coal burning power plant pollution! This is a curse from the Thaicong government to AH HUN SEN government!
If HUN SEN government couldn't kill off Cambodian people in his life time and the coal burning power plant will! Please check the following link for more detail on the hazardous pollution from coal burning power plant!
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/11/business/worldbusiness/11chinacoal.html
It doesn't make a lot of sense for Cambodia to have coal power plant which is very polluted and unfriendly to the environment and without a doubt will destroy Cambodia tourism!
True, but there are good potential that we may have a lot of coal underneath Tonle Sap. If that's the case, I don't mind because we don't have to spend $95/barrel of oil.
Yes! There is a way to burn coal in a very clean way and that is to convert coal into liquid fuel and it was invented by German scientists in 1923. A country such Malaysia has this technology and maybe Cambodia can learn a lot from Malaysia experimentation!
Turn coal into liquid fuel is an old technology and it could be the solution to Cambodia problem.
There you go. I hope it is not too expensive to convert.
Just build 100s of small biomass power plants in the countryside - the farmers do have so much raw material for that...and it ist clean and much cheaper! You can use funds from CER Programs and don't have to invest enormous amounts in the grid infrastructure first of all. That is way to reduce rural pooreness, too. And you keep your independency from other countrys.
Electricity and water cooperations are those controversial and sensitive issues, Especially for those chronic culturally imcompatable contries ( Vietnam Cambodia and Thailand).
It will most likely trigger a conflict in the future from the inconsistency of each country's national interests.
If not for solving the current domestic shortages but for the development.It is much better to be energy-independence.
Cambodia's current electricity shortage is only about 400MW in PP and 400MW for other provinces. So long as the government can provide a clear policy and safer environment for investment, it will not be too difficult to attract an energy company from a third world countries such as Japan , Australia and Singapore which are those have more social responsibility on energy developnment.
I am with you 3:21 PM. We must make rules clear and the government must do careful way before the rules come out. We have to diversity our energy investments.
3:21, we need to satisfy our need a few years ahead of time, not just our current need. Thus, we must anticipate about 50% more than what is required today.
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