Thai gov't opts to delay coal power plant project in southern province

Thai government Tuesday decided to delay a controversial coal power plant project in southern province of Krabi, according to the government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd.

Kaewkamnerd said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's cabinet decided to have the Ministry of Energy conduct a new Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as well as a new Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) on the coal power plant project in Krabi province though the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) had earlier done so.

The new EIA and EHIA reports will be submitted to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning which is yet to forward them to the cabinet.

The EGAT and the Ministry of Energy will conduct the new EIA and EHIA with the participation of local villagers and those who concern about possible adverse effects on environment and surrounding communities, Kaewkamnerd said.

Due to the delay, the construction of the 800-megawatt coal power plant will not be completed until 2024, the spokesman said.

The project, primarily designed to deal with short supply of electricity in Krabi and other southern provinces on the Andaman Sea shores, was delayed in apparent bid to allay public fears, mostly among local villagers, for possible hazards from contaminated mineral.

Energy Minister Anantaporn Kanjanarat earlier said the electricity agency would use the so-called Ultra Super Critical Technology in the project and the coal power plant would by no means pose any hazard to the local villagers' health.

Nevertheless, such statement failed to convince the protesters. They have gathered outside the government house with several leaders recently arrested and detained. Endit