Thailand plans to buy more electricity from Myanmar

BANGKOK, October 8 (TNA) – Thai Energy Minister Pongsak Ruktapongpisal said on Tuesday Thailand plans to buy about 10,000 megawatts more of electricity from Myanmar to curb with rising demand for electricity in the Kingdom. Pongsak said the two countries are discussing drafting a new agreement in which Thailand will purchase 7,000 MWs of electricity from Mai Tong Hydropower Plant Project in southern Shan State. Thailand will also buy between 2,000 and 3,000 MWs of power from Dawei (Tavoy) Coal-power Plant Project, he said. According to the Thai energy minister, the state-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Public Co., Ltd. (EGAT) will be the buyer while its subsidiary plans to jointly invest in the venture. The Thai side will invest about 30 per cent in the Mai Tong venture with major shareholders being Chinese investors, he said, adding that due to its large size, sufficient time needed for environmental study. He said Myanmar needs about 12 years to construct the hydropower plant. On Dawei project, Pongsak added time is also needed because Myanmar has to issue a joint investment law in order to develop and make Dawei a special economic zone. (TNA)