Ministry to hear shortage moves

The Energy Ministry has called an urgent meeting on the preparations of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), the Metropolitan Electricity Authority and the Provincial Electricity Authority for the expected shortage of power next month when Myanmar temporarily suspends its gas supply to Thailand.

Industry Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal will chair the meeting scheduled for Thursday.

A ministry source revealed that Egat might not purchase electricity, expected at 200 MW, from Malaysia during the gas shutdown because of the very high price of Bt15 per unit charged by the country.

Myanmar plans to suspend the gas supply from April 5-14 for a maintenance procedure. Thailand's power reserve will be only 767 megawatts on April 5, a bit below the normal level.

The Federation of Thai Industries has advised Egat that about 45 factories, including those of Siam Cement Group, will cooperate by adjusting their production process to deal with the power shortage on April 5.

Meanwhile, Energy Ministry permanent secretary Norkun Sitthiphong said the recent reduction in the oil price in Dubai by more than US$3 per barrel had resulted in local traders earning a profit from marketing fees of up to Bt2.40 per litre, compared with the normal level of Bt1.50. The Energy Policy and Planning Office therefore has increased the contribution from traders to the Oil Fund by about 50 satang per litre for petrol (to Bt9.70 for 95-octane) and gasohol (except gasohol E85, for which the increase is 20 satang per litre, and diesel, at 80 satang).