Wannarat: energy security assured

 Minister Wannarat Charn-nukul said after a meeting with related units yesterday that the third natural gas pipeline would increase the domestic gas supply to 3,000 million cubic feet per day, well over the daily demand of 2,835. PTT Exploration and Production also reported the expected gas reserves of 1.38 trillion cubic feet from 13 exploration blocks in Burma, of which 240 million cubic feet will be shipped to Thailand a day starting in 2013.

 He noted that while domestic gas reserves can cope with demand until 2026, overseas gas projects as well as quests for other types of energy like nuclear assures the national energy security.

 While Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand confirms the scheduled completion of 3 new power plants, the ministry reported that Gheco-One, one of the four independent generators, has already started the plant construction. Two more have already signed the power purchase agreement with Egat, while waiting for the environment impact assessment. Egat is also negotiating the power price with National Power Supply.