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Published on September 16, 2007

He said the party's policy would be to withdraw the plan to construct nuclear power plants in Thailand as stated in the 2007 Power Development Plan (PDP), due to safety concerns.

The 2007 PDP, which was approved by the junta-installed government, aims to construct four 1,000-megawatt nuclear power plants to generate electricity by 2021. The first two would be set up in 2020.

The Democrat Party would promote a policy of alternative energy sources. Seven hundred one-megawatt biogas and biomass power plants would be set up in 700 districts across country and they would use local raw materials to generate electricity. The party expects that all 700 plants would generate 700 megawatts, or half the electricity demand, each year.

The alternative energies in the Democrat Party's policy are biogas, biomass, solar, wind, underground thermal energy and hydro-power. This plan would increase the capacity to set up renewable-power plants from 1,700 megawatts to 9,000 megawatts for the next 15 years. It is not necessary to select nuclear power as an alternative energy, said Alongkorn.

However, the Science and Technology Ministry has already moved forward on the plan to build nuclear plants with officials travelling to Austria to observe the management of nuclear power there.

Meanwhile a team of experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency will visit Thailand to advise the preparatory committee on the feasibility of nuclear power, chaired by Dr Korb Krittayakeeroon, a former National Science and Technology Development Agency official, said the deputy director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, Chavalit Pichalai.

He said that during the next seven years the government would develop safety standards, establish a regulatory framework and train the necessary personnel. Another six years would be needed after that to complete the plant's construction.

"Nuclear safety was considered the priority as well as a suitable location, which should be near a river or the sea," he said.

The government has not decided on the location of the plant, but Ranong, Chumphon and Surat Thani have emerged as possible sites as all are close to the sea, which could supply water as coolant.

The decision to include atomic energy in its long-term development plan was made because nuclear energy is recognised as efficient and cost-effective and emits no carbon gases, said Chavalit.

Yosawadee Hongthong

 The Nation