A leading opponent of a proposed coal-fired power station in Krabi has dismissed the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's (Egat) claim that construction of the plant will begin in the next four years, saying it is unlikely to get off the ground.
Prasitchai Nunual, coordinator of the Save the Andaman from Coal network, predicted plans for the controversial project will end up being scrapped as a result of changing energy trends in the next five years.
Fossil fuels will be obsolete, he said, speaking a day after Egat reiterated its intention to construct the controversial plant near the coastal city.
However, Mr Prasitchai said he and his network would continue opposing the project if Egat presses ahead with a new Environment and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) study. He also said current EHIA regulations didn't provide transparency and credibility to the project. "Egat should suspend the EHIA study until current regulations have been amended," he said.
His group will only accept an EHIA study conducted under new regulations, he added.
Groups opposing the plant will meet the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on June 16 to follow up on a bill on environment quality promotion. The bill is giving cause for concern, particularly a clause that allows a state agency in charge of a project to seek out a construction firm before an EIA or EHIA study is approved, said Mr Prasitchai. Civic groups will call on the government to revise the clause, he added.
The Save the Andaman from Coal group also will demand the government set up an independent body to conduct an EIA or EHIA study for state projects, instead of hiring a private consultancy firm to conduct one, he said.
Anuchart Palakawongse Na Ayudhaya, assistant governor of Egat's Project Community Relations and Environment department, earlier admitted plans for the Krabi plant may have to be adjusted and could be delayed for another four years, to comply with the government's policy to increase renewable energy to 40%.
He said Egat needs to restart the project's EHIA study process from scratch, including the hiring of a new consultancy firm, arranging public hearings -- which is expected to be complete in two years -- and an approval process which needs another year. A source close to Egat also admitted there was a high chance of the project being scrapped.