Egat vows power will flow to key zones

Egat vows power will flow to key zones

The reduction in gas supply from Myanmar would cause a problem of low pressure in electricity supply system in some areas of Bangkok and nearby provinces, but that would not affect people, Thana Puttarangsri, deputy governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) said on Tuesday.

Mr Thana met on Tuesday with senior executives of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) to discuss measures to deal with the scheduled disruption of natural gas supply from Myanmar from April 5 to 14.

He said the Egat, PEA and MEA have planned to reserve more electricity by buying it from neighbouring countries and small power production plants (SPP), which had agreed to produce additional electricity for the country’s power system during the Myanmar shortage.

Bangkok (File Photo)

Industry leaders have agreed to temporarily halt production lines on April 5, which will free up available power to 1,291 megawatts, from the current 767 MWs. The exact figure of the reserved electricity will be reassessed late this month, he added.

PEA deputy governor Chanchai Banditsaowapak said he is confident that the announced measures would enable the country to squeak through the energy crisis with minimal disruption.

In a worst case scenario, when electricity reserves are insufficient and it is necessary to cut electricity supply in some areas, technicans will black out areas with the least impact. That could include outer districts of Bangkok, Mr Chanchai said.

EGAT, PEA and MEA will put utmost effort to prevent all key areas, including commercial, financial, industrial estates, tourism and hospital areas, from being affected by any possible brownout or blackout, he added.

Krisda Monthienvichienchai, president of Mirt Phol Group, said his firm is ready to support the government during the disruption of gas supply by halting production lines at its five sugar plants on April 5.

Mr Krisda insisted that the cut in gas supplies would not affect his company’s regular plans to buy sugarcane from farmers.

Mitr Phol’s sugar factories can produce their own electricity and do not use electricity supply from the state, he said.

The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) last week admitted that eastern Bangkok's Bang Chan Industrial Estate would likely be among areas most affected by the supply disruption.

Even though he expected the overall situation could be managed, IEAT governor Veerapong Chaiperm said April 5 and April 8-10 would remain critical periods for the manufacturing sector.

At present, some 40 industrial estates nationwide use a combined 3,700 megawatts of electricity per day.

"I think Bang Chan is the most vulnerable, as it is in Min Buri district, one of three areas the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) has singled out as being at risk of brownouts," he said.

The other two areas are Lat Phrao district and Ratchadaphisek Road.

Eighty-one factories operate in the Bang Chan Industrial Estate, mostly in the food sector.

Bangkok's Ratchaprasong area (File Photo)

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