The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Plc (Egat) has restructured its corporate management in preparation for future expansion. The restructuring was undertaken after the Supreme Administrative Court responded to complaints from consumer groups and halted Egat's plan to become a listed company.

Deputy governor Pichai Chulpongstorn said the new corporate structure had recently been approved by the Egat board. He added that the restructuring, which will take effect on October 1, should help the company's management operate faster and more smoothly.

Under the old structure, there were 13 deputy governors in charge of four key areas: corporate management, power-plant construction, power production and power transmission. Three of

the 13 were ranked as senior deputies.

However, under the new streamlined structure, which will initially stand for four years, the senior deputy positions will be abolished and only eight deputy governors retained.

Deputy governors in charge of power generation and transmission will be integrated, as will those in charge of operations and maintenance.

Pichai, who retires on Saturday, said that for the past 10 years Egat had been considered overstaffed, inefficient and burdened by an overweight corporate structure.

Yet he said that throughout those years, Egat's management had tried to improve its internal structure, as evidenced by the company's reduction in staff from 35,000 to 24,800.

"We believe the current workforce will respond well to Egat's mission and expansion plans for the future," said Pichai.

He defended Egat's decision to maintain its current workforce, saying the staff were required for the social and community work Egat did alongside producing power and maintaining infrastructure.

"We believe wherever our power plants are built, we have a duty to help develop the surrounding community. Therefore, Egat must retain staff in other fields, in order to fulfil our comprehensive mission," said Pichai, citing the fisheries experts Egat has on its payroll to promote fish breeding in dams.

Watcharapong Thongrung

The Nation