Thailand's Samui Island chosen to pioneer low carbon society project

BANGKOK, March 12 (TNA) - The Asia-Pacific Energy Research Centre (APERC) has chosen Koh Samui in Thailand's southern Surat Thani province as the first island to pioneer its low carbon society project in the region and also the first in the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to be promoted as an energy-saving city. Weerawat Chanthanakhom, a specialist and a senior advisor to the Thai Ministry of Energy, said Monday that the Samui Island has been chosen to promote efficient energy consumption and reduction in fossil fuel exploitation in the APERC project, aimed to cut its energy consumption by 45 per cent by 2035. Under the project, APERC will deploy its experts and researchers on the Samui Island over the next couple of days who will stay there for six months to study how to minimize energy consumption on the renowned Thai resort island. The study will be comprehensive and welcome public participation, covering the promotion of electric or hybrid vehicles, as well as gasohol and biodiesel on the island. According to the specialist, APERC may apply its findings of the low carbon project it pioneered in China's Tianjin City to the Samui Island. In Tianjin, the central government, the private sector and local people have joined forces to promote energy-saving and conservation. Weerawat said that Koh Samui is suitable, as about five million international tourists visit the island annually and there are not so many buildings; while local people, whose opinions will be heeded, will also be encouraged to develop a low carbon society, noting that the Thai Ministry of Tourism and Sports agrees with the plan because it will help promote the local tourism. Weerawat suggested that tax reduction should be available for energy-saving vehicles and equipment which would be used on the island only and garbage management should also take part in energy-saving for buildings. Weerawat acknowledged that APERC has chosen Thailand because the country successfully campaigned for efficient energy consumption and it also plans to introduce the results of its project on Koh Samui to other islands in Asia and the Pacific. (TNA)