Law to allow nuclear power
The Science and Technology Ministry is amending the law on nuclear technology to pave the way for Thailand's first nuclear power plant, Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said.
He said nuclear power would be the best option for Thailand if other fuels used for electricity generation are priced too high. "The Science and Technology Ministry has supervised nuclear energy technology all along. It also regulates the use of such technology," Piyasvasti said. The move follows the Energy Ministry's plan to produce 2,000 megawatts of nuclear power in 2020 and another 2,000MW in 2021. Nuclear power would then account for 9 per cent of all fuels used. The Energy Ministry has estimated that at the exchange rate of Bt38 per US dollar, a 1,000MW nuclear plant's generating cost per unit is Bt2.08, while a 700MW coal-fired power plant's cost is Bt2.12 and a 700MW thermal plant's is Bt2.29. "A nuclear power plant offers a competitive cost," he said. Nuclear power plants exist in four Asian countries - 55 in Japan, 20 in South Korea, 14 in India and 11 in China. Other Asian countries that are planning nuclear power plants are Vietnam, Indonesia and Turkey. Nuclear power has been included in Thailand's energy development plan in order to kick off discussions on the establishment of a nuclear plant, which could take 15 years. Nuclear power has been highlighted as an alternative to diversify risks from dependence on natural gas.
Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation
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