New push coming for coal and nuclear

       The government will put more effort into educating the public about the essential need for clean coal technology and nuclear power in order to balance fuel usage, says Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul.
       Energy policymakers are again revising the 15-year power development plan (PDP) to place greater emphasis on coal,nuclear and renewable fuels and less emphasis on natural gas.
       "Coal-fired power and nuclear power are the most preferred fuels, considering their low costs and emissions," Mr Wannarat said yesterday.
       "Yet these fuels are opposed strongly by people. We have to put the utmost effort into making them understand and accept them. This is a very tough task."
       Local activists in 2001 forced the cancellation of plans for two large coalfired plants with total capacity of 2,100 megawatts in Prachuap Khiri Khan, because of environmental impact. The fuel was changed to gas and the plants moved to Ratchaburi and Saraburi.
       An incident over the weekend in Kanchanaburi has given new impetus to efforts to change the long-term PDP.
       A pipeline leak in Kanchanaburi on Sunday disrupted gas supplies from Burma. At the same time, repairs were under way to a leak in the pipeline bringing gas from the Gulf of Thailand.
       The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand had to increase hydroelectricity output at the Srinakarin Dam,leading to floods that damaged communities nearby.
       Pornchai Rujiprapha, the ministry's permanent secretary and chairman of Egat, said the agency was open to hearing the views of environmental activists and others about the PDP revision.
       Natural gas now accounts for 74% of the fuel in power production, imported and domestic coal 18%, hydroelectricity 6%, with the rest renewable energy and power from Laos and Malaysia.
       Under the former PDP, revised in 2007,natural gas usage would be reduced to 38% of total power output by 2021, with imported power from neighbouring countries 28%, coal 21, nuclear power 10% and renewables the rest.
       Purchases from abroad will also need to be diversified to reduce heavy dependence on one country, he said.