US agency praises Thailand’s energy programmes

BANGKOK, Aug 23 (TNA) – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has commended two Thai energy programmes which it said could promote energy conservation among consumers and in the business sector as well as help boosting investment on alternative energy, a senior Thai Ministry of Energy official said on Sunday.

Krairit Nilkuha, director-general of the Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency Department, said USAID had praised the Thai government-sponsored Revolving Fund for Energy Conservation (RFEC) and the Innovative Approaches to Financing Energy Efficiency in Asia programmes as it believed they could also persuade banking institution to extend more loans to energy operators.

Only two countries in Asia — Thailand and India – have received praises from the agency, said Mr. Krairit.

The RFEC programme has now entered the fourth phrase and has received funding amounting Bt5.567 billion from the Energy Conservation Promotion Fund and another Bt5.401 billion in loans extended by commercial banks. So far it has carried out 242 energy conservation projects in Thailand.

Mr. Krairit said the three phrases carried out under the RFEC programme had helped reduce electricity costs amounting to Bt2.083 billion and fuel amounting Bt1.932 billion annually. They could also help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 76.8 million tonnes.

The fourth phrase of the programme is being carried out from this year until 2012 by the Energy Ministry with total investment of Bt400 million. Private operators could borrow a maximum of Bt50 million per project at a maximum interest rate of 4 per cent and a seven-year maturity. (TNA)