New Egat chief puts public acceptance to the fore

"Our image must be positive first. If we can't overcome this hurdle now, it will be difficult to make any move in the future," Sutat Patmasiriwat said in an interview last week.

He emphasised the country's need for new power plants, given that under the 15-year national power development plan (PDP), Thailand would secure 7,000 megawatts from Laos and rely on a huge supply of gas from Burma for domestic power generation.

Under the PDP, Egat is tasked with kick-starting nuclear power generation. While four sites are shortlisted as possible locations, it has been reported that Egat has had difficulty in accessing the local communities due to public fears over nuclear power.

To Sutat, public acceptance will smoothen Egat's future moves, given that the agency will have to be involved in the construction of plants and use private land for new transmission lines.

To pave way for new power plants, Egat needs to know the locals and establish local partners, which could be schools and universities. Information could be provided to the partners, and Egat should be open to all questions.

"I'm certain that the Egat structure will enable this policy to materialise. With a good image, we'll be welcomed anywhere we tread," he said.

Sutat said Thais now view Egat as an efficient organisation, but they doubt its transparency and accessibility to its information.

"I believe this is a result of our past actions. We need to readjust our image. They perceive that we're rich and come to us for money. But now, we need to have better knowledge about what the communities around power plants really want, and we will involve ourselves with their activities. Through the value chain, including our suppliers, we must take into account social issues," he said.

Egat's 11th governor, officially appointed to the post on December 29, is now relaying his vision internally. Egat two years ago kicked off a programme to welcome outside assessment from local administrative bodies, villagers, local civil servants and media. Local universities are helping in the assessment process. Each of the agency's 18 power plants now has its own environment committee, which involves itself in local activities.

Sutat acknowledges that the expansion of existing plants would be easier than building new 'green' projects. However, new plants are necessary given the growing demand for power. As the economy is heading up, industrial manufacturing will increase and this will raise power demand. Industrial use accounts for half of overall consumption.

Aside from expansion, Egat is also focused on energy-saving and recyclable energy.

Sutat said four programmes are being carried out at Egat to reduce CO2 emissions: energy-saving, generating efficiency enhancement, recyclable power and a reforestation programme under which 400,000 trees are being planted to cut 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Sutat has set his own performance index: he will launch projects to reduce 500,000 tonnes of CO2 in his first year at the agency's helm.

Under the PDP, Egat will produce 250MW from recyclable energy in the next 10 years.

Today, it is scheduled to kick off a campaign to replace 100 million fluorescent light bulbs with the T5, the latest generation of economical fluorescent lamps that promises to reduce energy consumption by 30 per cent by 2015. If the target is achieved, national power consumption will be cut by 1,400MW and CO2 by 3 million tonnes per year. The bulbs are now supplied in sufficient quantities by local producers.

Siam Cement Group is a partner in the Egat-sponsored Carbon Energy Network, which includes enterprises that share the goal of reducing CO2. Joining the network will be enterprises with a good image, plus the Energy Ministry and the Industry Ministry.

Moving towards efficient and clean energy, SCG promises to replace 100,000 light bulbs within the group. Bangchak Petroleum could also centre its efforts around gasohol products. The product range then can be extended.

"We're doing everything to show that we're not a profit-oriented organisation. It's better for the country if people consume less energy, and if there is any profit, we're ready to channel it to help the poor," Sutat said.