Thailand's power, natural gas consumption reaches new high

BANGKOK, May 8 (TNA) - Thailand's power and natural gas consumption has reached a new peak due to high temperatures currently. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Energy Twarath Sutabutr told journalists on Friday that Thailand broke both electricity and natural gas consumption records on May 7, when electricity consumption nationwide stood at 27,198 megawatts, the third record breaker so far this year, and natural gas consumption peaked at 5,953 million cubic feet. Twarath said the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) has projected this year's power consumption nationwide to peak at 27,500 megawatts. Twarath assured that there is enough gas supply in Thailand, as part of natural gas in the country, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), has been imported from neighboring countries, namely Myanmar and Laos. The senior official acknowledged, however, that authorities need to work out plans for national energy security, as gas deposits have been declining in the Gulf of Thailand. Thai Energy Minister Narongchai Akrasanee told reporters, meanwhile, that the Cabinet approved at its meeting on May 7, his ministry's plan to seal two memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on energy cooperation with Myanmar. According to the minister, one MOU will be valid for three years, under which an LNG terminal will be urgently constructed in Myanmar, where natural gas from three yards with different temperatures will be mixed to meet the quality Thailand wants, in order to serve power plants in the western part of Thailand, especially those in Ratchaburi Province. Besides, the other MOU will be valid for 10 years, under which power plants in Myanmar will be constructed to transmit electricity to Thailand. (TNA)