GE Energy Says Thailand Should Use Coal and Nuclear
By Bangkok Post, Thailand
Mar. 10–Coal and nuclear power remain Thailand’s most viable fuel choices for the long term, according to Kovit Kantapasara, head of Thailand and Indonesia for GE Energy.
“Nuclear and coal should have played a big role in our energy industry in the future,” he told the Bangkok Post.
“At the end of the day, we don’t have many choices. You can see what we have, and our sources of fuel are very limited, if we still desire growth. We have very limited choices. … I would say that Thailand has never suffered significant periods of [electricity] blackouts. It’s not something that we would want to see.”
Nuclear power may need to wait three more years for the government to consider going forward with it. Mr Kovit said: “It is one of cleanest sources of fuel and at a relatively cheaper price compared to other alternative fuels. In the real world, we need a balance between environmental and economic factors.”
The Surayud Chulanont government approved the launch of a preliminary study into the development of nuclear power in the existing Power Development Plan.
Unsurprisingly, the policy has attracted considerable attention from consumer and environmental activists who argue that even a slight error could have a catastrophic effect.
Supporters of nuclear power say the risks are overblown with new technology that has significantly reduced the possibility of radiation leaks.
Other power sources have attracted their own critics.
Coal, for instance, is dismissed by environmentalists for its emissions of carbon dioxide and other gases, while dams are a non-starter due to the impact on the ecology and affected communities.
Reserves of Thailand’s main domestic fuel source, natural gas, are expected to be exhausted within several decades, and PTT Plc, the state-controlled energy giant, has already moved to secure new supplies through imports of liquefied natural gas.
Thailand has secured only one million tonnes of LNG for in 2011, far below its need for five million tonnes in that year.
Mr Kovit said coal was the best choice for the short and medium term due to the new highly efficient coal gasification technology that could effectively eliminate all emissions from production.
“The cleaner you want it, the more money you also need to pay,” he said. “If Thailand asks for the cheapest and cleanest at the same time, it can’t be possible.”
Even though Thailand’s options are difficult in the short term, GE is optimistic about the small power producer prgramme, which is strongly supported by the government.
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