Thailand needs more coal-fired electricity plants

BANGKOK, May 13 (TNA) - Energy Minister Arak Chonlatanon says Thailand needs more coal-powered electricity generators to help lower the cost of power production. Arak said coal-fired generators were the best option as Thailand held on to abundant coal reserves that could last up to 200 years. He said the cost associated with coal-energy production were still much cheaper when compared to natural gas, oil and alternative energy. The energy minister added his view that the ratio of producing electricity in Thailand should now be increasing to 50 percent from just around 20 percent currently. Meanwhile, Mr. Arak said he was informed of the hijacking of an oil tanker with around 900,000 barrels of crude oil by Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. He said however the incident should not affect oil reserves in Thailand as PTT Pubic Company Limited must have made insurance on the shipment. (TNA)