Energy in Thailand
[citation needed] Thailand is a producer of natural gas, with proved, but limited, reserves of at least 0.2 trillion cubic metres as of 2018[update].
[4]: 51–53 The government is promoting the production of biodiesel from palm oil to be blended with conventional diesel with the aim of reducing petroleum imports.
[9] In March 2016, the Thai government gave approval for homes and commercial buildings to install solar panels.
The private sector, despite Thailand's ample solar resources, previously had no right to install power-generation equipment.
Earlier plans to produce five gigawatts of electricity by 2025 using nuclear technology were scaled back to 2 GW in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster.
Seven ASEAN nations, including Thailand, have signed cooperation agreements with Rosatom, Russia's state nuclear energy agency.
These efforts are complemented by a phased withdrawal of fossil fuel subsidies and the introduction of supportive policies aimed at reducing the nation's carbon footprint.
The World Bank report underscored the dual benefits of such policies, not only in mitigating climate change but also in reducing the financial and health impacts of air pollution, as evidenced by the substantial costs associated with PM2.5 exposure in Thailand.
The report concluded that while the initial steps towards carbon pricing are critical, they would need to be significantly bolstered after 2030, alongside the adoption of additional measures such as the expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure and renewable energy skills development, to achieve the deep emission cuts required for Thailand to meet its climate objectives.
[23] As the April 2024 report highlights, Thailand is facing an extraordinary increase in electricity consumption due to an ongoing severe heat wave.
This significant spike in power usage is primarily driven by the revival of key sectors such as business and tourism, which are still rebounding alongside the extreme temperatures.
In September 2001, the National Energy Policy Office approved the partial listing of PTT, the state-owned oil and gas company.
[25] PTT swiftly became the largest company by market capitalisation upon listing in the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
In early 2004, massive employee protests forced the EGAT governor to resign, thus delaying the planned privatisation of the state enterprise.
However, EGAT's privatisation was abruptly delayed when some NGOs and some union members filed a petition with the Supreme Court a few days before the scheduled listing on the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET).
[28] On 23 March 2006, the Supreme Administrative Court ruled against the privatisation of EGAT PLC, citing conflicts of interest, public hearing irregularities, and the continued right of expropriation.
The court questioned the neutrality of Parinya Nutalai, chair of the public hearing panel on the EGAT listing, because he was Vice Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment.
Caretaker Finance Minister Thanong Bidaya has noted that the delisting and denationalisation of PTT could force the government to borrow massively from foreign institutions.
[35] Some criticised that the listing of PTT on the SET on the grounds that it represented a massive transfer of public assets for the benefit of few people.
Under pressure, Thaksin's government formed an interim electricity regulatory body, but some charged that it lacked authority to force compliance, levy fines, or punish defaulters.
Some expressed concern that partial ownership of Thailand's largest electricity producer by foreign shareholders would impact national security and cause conflicts of interest.
Anti-privatisation petitioners (including the Confederation of Consumer Organisations, People Living with HIV/Aids, Alternative Energy Project for Sustainability, Free Trade Area Watch, and the Four Region Slum Network[38]) were harshly criticised by both Thai and international investors, who accused them of using corrupt tactics in delaying the listing.
[39] In 2021, eight Laotian power plants, with a combined generation capacity of 5,420 MW, are committed to exporting their production to Thailand.
[40] According to Thailand's Power Development Plan for 2015-2036,[41][42] the country intends to build 20 additional gas-powered electrical generating stations (17,728 MWe), nine "clean coal" power stations (7,390 MWe), and 14,206 MW of renewable energy, including hydro, a large proportion of which will be imported from Laos or Myanmar.
While these sources may look clean on Thailand's balance sheets, the devastating environmental impacts to locals are simply outsourced.
