Thailand eyes to be electricity trading hub in ASEAN

BANGKOK, March 8 (TNA) - Thailand has now eyed to become an electricity trading hub in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Energy Minister Pongsak Raktapongpaisal voiced the national goal at a seminar on the power grid development in Thailand, organized in Bangkok on Thursday by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers of Thailand, noting that Thailand has potential to become an electricity trading hub in the region by connecting its power grid with other ASEAN member countries, including Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Pongsak pointed out that the power networking will result in mutual benefits and expanded cooperation among the ASEAN member states, as well as the development of standard electricity grids and adequate power supply in the region. The energy minister acknowledged, however, that it is necessary to woo public support for the construction of more coal-fired, hydropower and nuclear power plants in the country, as the Gulf of Thailand is foreseen to run out of natural gas over the next nine years, and that 70 per cent of electricity generation in the Kingdom now depends on natural gas; so it is to look for alternative energy for domestic power production. The energy minister said his ministry will accelerate public relations on the energy issues to promote proper awareness among local people that the construction of more power plants in Thailand will help raise per capita income, cut production costs, increase investment and boost the national economy. (TNA)