The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand will look for a new site for a coal-fired power plant in the South if the government decides not to build one in Krabi because of the stiff resistance from local people, Egat deputy governor Wiwat Chancherngpanich said.
Mr Wiwat said a decision on the Krabi plant is expected this month. The committee set up to study the project has submitted its report to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha for consideration.
If the government decides to cancel the Krabi plant, Egat would look for a new site to ensure a new coal-fired power plant is built to supply electricity to the South under the Power Development Plan (PDP 2015), he said.
Under the original plan, Krabi was one of two locations selected for a new power plant. The second is to be built in Songkhla.
Mr Wiwat said the South needs additional electricity production capability to meet demand, which is increasing about 6% annually. The region's maximum demand is 2,630 megawatts, but Egat's current power production capacity cannot meet it.
He said Egat was still confident the government would approve the construction of the coal-fired power plant, because power shortages would have considerable impact, and it was the people who would suffer.
But if the plan were to be scrapped or delayed, Egat would have to look for a new site to avoid the risk of power outages.
Mr Wiwat said opposition groups wanted the project delayed for another three years, to evaluate the future impact. In fact, the project had already been delayed for two years.
The 800-megawatt Krabi plant is planned for Nua Klong district, which is part of the Krabi Environment Protection Zone on the Andaman Sea coast. Actual construction was initially planned to begin in 2015, with operations to start in 2019.
Egat is also conducting an environmental and health impact assessment for a coal-fired power plant in Songkhla's Thepha district, with a capacity of 1,000MW. Bids are expected to be called for the project early next year.