More energy needed: more solutions wanted

BANGKOK, 10 March 2010 (NNT) – The Ministry of Energy hosts the ‘Fuel Options for Electricity Generation’ seminar to discuss possible energy alternatives for Thailand

Minister of Energy, Dr Wannarat Channukul, presided over the opening ceremony advising public and private sectors to not emphasize development on a certain alternative energy source too much. Disruption of energy diversity may result in the unstable development of the country.

Statistics from the BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2009 showed that world oil reserves would only last 40 years, natural gas 60 years and coal 120 years. The Energy Minister added finding energy alternatives would be a must as world energy consumption rates was projected to increase by 40% by the year 2030, especially in developing countries.

Most speculations are directed at nuclear energy. Whether or not to accept the option as an alternative energy source has still not been decided. Dr Wannarat said that it was understandable for the project to be rejected but under the condition that the people had acceptable reasons and not false beliefs about nuclear power.

In the 2010 Power Development Plan (PDP), Thailand will rely more on renewable energy in producing electricity. It is estimated to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from 0.546 to 0.38 kilogram per kilowatt per hour by the year 2030.

The private sector also aims at lowering greenhouse-gas emissions by 6 million tons per year, with the launch of 96 ‘green’ projects, based on the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).