Myanmar resumes supplying natural gas to Thailand

BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) - Neighbour Myanmar has resumed supplying natural gas to Thailand since Friday night while there was no power blackout or failure in the kingdom during the temporary suspension of natural gas supplies to this country, said Suthat Pattamasiriwat, governor of State-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. (EGAT). Suthat said Myanmar has resumed supplying natural gas to Thailand from 8.35 p.m. Friday, enabling EGAT to switch its electric generator which used bunker oil or diesel during the temporary suspension of natural gas supply back to using natural gas in producing electricity again. EGAT used 86.22 million litres of bunker oil and 38.80 million litres of diesel as substitution to natural gas from Myanmar during the suspension. Electric supply in Thailand was smooth during the period due to cooperation in conserving of energy by every sector while the weather was not too hot as projected earlier, he said. The government earlier expressed concern there might be power blackout especially in Bangkok and some parts in the South on April 5, the day that electric consumption is expected to reach its peak in summer in Thailand. Anxieties were made earlier by both the Thai government and the people after Myanmar announced that it would temporarily suspend its natural gas supplies to Thailand between April 5-14 due to routine maintenance on Yanada gas field. Although worries over energy are now over, people should continue saving power because besides assisting the country, they could also save money from consuming electricity, Suthat added. (TNA)