Secretary-general Ampon Kittiampon said yesterday that it was about time for a feasibility study on nuclear energy, which would be a significant alternative source in case of another energy crisis. "However, before this can happen, the government must ensure that the public truly understands three major points," he said.

The public must be educated about the new technology to alleviate concerns over its safety and emission of pollutants.

The public should appreciate how important energy security and sustainability are for the economy and society.

And the public should be informed of the country's readiness to implement the technology in terms of personnel, as the number of nuclear physicists keeps growing.

Ampon cited the three global energy crises that have walloped the country.

The first was caused by the Middle East wars of 1967 and 1973, which caused crude oil prices to jump from US$10 to $30 per barrel.

The second followed the Iraq-Iran War in the 1980s, when Thailand had to borrow from the World Bank to restructure its energy consumption profile.

The third ran from 2005-06, when oil prices shot up from $40 per barrel to more than $70.

Last week, the National Energy Policy Council approved the formation of a committee to study the feasibility of the nuclear power plant.

Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand has said it would take more than a decade before a nuclear plant would start contributing electricity - seven years for the study and six for development.

The decision reflects the recent rise in world oil prices, which has driven up the cost of natural gas, the fuel for over half of the country's power generation.

Plans to use coal, which is a low-cost option, have faced strong resistance because of fears over their impact on the environment.