Energy
From The Report: Thailand 2018
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With roughly 7.1trn cu feet of natural gas at the end of 2017, down from 10.6trn cu feet in 2007, according to the 2018 “BP Statistical Review of World Energy”, Thailand’s reserves of this critical resource are depleting. As a result, the country is working to diversify its power mix with both conventional and alternative sources. The transition is going smoothly, and new technologies are being brought on-line far faster than expected. Scientific advances, supportive and flexible policies, overcapacity in solar manufacturing and gains in efficiency have made the environment for energy diversification and investment exceedingly attractive. The shift to alternative energy sources is happening so quickly that Thailand is becoming a recognised leader in the region, if not globally. This chapter contains interviews with Siri Jirapongphan, Minister of Energy; Piyasvasti Amranand, Former Chairman, PTT; Bundit Sapianchai, President and CEO, BCPG; and Preeyanart Soontornwata, President, B.Grimm Power.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Balancing act: The composition of the energy mix continues to evolve, with the uptake of advanced technologies and a potential comeback for coal
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With roughly 7.1trn cu feet of natural gas at the end of 2017, down from 10.6trn cu feet in 2007, according to the 2018 “BP Statistical Review of World Energy”, Thailand’s reserves of this critical resource are depleting. Thus, the country is working to diversify its power mix with both conventional and alternative sources. The transition is going smoothly, and new technologies are being brought on-line far faster than expected. Scientific advances, supportive and flexible policies, overcapacity…

Interview

Mixing it up: Siri Jirapongphan, Minister of Energy, on securing supply and promoting sustainable generation systems
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Interview :Siri Jirapongphan Under Energy 4.0, what are the country’s plans for sustainable energy generation systems? SIRI JIRAPONGPHAN: Energy 4.0, or Thailand 4.0, will prioritise sustainability, bringing smarter living, infrastructure and systems together. Biomass power plants are now cheaper to build and operate due to the availability of smarter systems. Therefore, we will be increasing the number of power plants that use biomass as fuel. Smart distributed generation systems will…

Analysis

Change of plans: Guiding documents outline sector liberalisation, use of renewables and considerations for the future
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Over the years the government has introduced a wide range of plans, programmes and initiatives that outline goals and set targets for the power sector. These plans are continuously being reviewed and amended in response to shifting dynamics in the industry, such as advancements in renewable energy technology and the depletion of domestic resources. Sector Plan The Power Development Plan (PDP), created by the Electricity Generation Authority of Thailand and the Ministry of Energy (MoEn), lies at…

Interview

Planning ahead: Piyasvasti Amranand, Former Chairman, PTT, on competition and the importance of maintaining continuity in the gas supply
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Interview :Piyasvasti Amranand How do you expect the Energy Reform plan to impact upstream and midstream competition? PIYASVASTI AMRANAND: In most countries liberalisation happens first in the power industry, followed by the gas industry. In Thailand, however, it seems to be the other way around. Although the Energy Reform plan was drafted in 2017, the framework remains unclear. Focusing on gas liberalisation, the plan does not provide details or a timeline for the power sector. What we do…

Analysis

Refining the process: Legal structures now in line with international standards, providing more flexibility for exploration and production
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Thailand’s domestic hydrocarbons resources are fairly small. According to the June 2018 “BP Statistical Review of World Energy”, at the end of 2017 the country had 300m barrels of proven oil reserves – less than 0.05% of the world’s total – and about 7.1trn cu feet of natural gas, roughly 0.1% of the global total. Nevertheless, the assets have been the subject of considerable legislative activity of late, as the government works to maximise the value it extracts from domestic resources.…

Interview

Green opportunities: Bundit Sapianchai, President and CEO, BCPG, on innovative technologies to support the transition to renewables
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Interview :Bundit Sapianchai How is Thailand proceeding with its plans to address climate concerns, following the country’s commitment to the Paris Agreement? BUNDIT SAPIANCHAI: Global warming has been recognised by almost everybody, and countries have started to promote and pursue green energy. In the very early days green technology was very expensive and thus had to be subsidised by the government. Today, the cost of producing green energy is very low. It is affordable and becoming increasingly…

Interview

Seeking alternatives: Preeyanart Soontornwata, President, B.Grimm Power, on how small power producers (SPPs) can support growing demand
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Interview :Preeyanart Soontornwata What areas of the national power infrastructure need the most investment? PREEYANART SOONTORNWATA: The most recent official numbers show that Thailand has a 40% reserve margin, but the south still experiences power shortages. The government understands that this is not how the macro supply should be, so it will move towards implementing geographic-based zoning. The reserve misunderstanding has been a long-term issue in Thailand. Luckily, the new power development…