PHUKET ENVIRONMENT & ENERGY:
Coal projects in Krabi threaten ecology
Phuket News
Tuesday, 16 September 2014
In the wake of surging energy demand by both the public and private sectors of Phuket and the rest of Southern Thailand, Greenpeace Southeast Asia is urging the Thai government to halt plans to erect a controversial and destructive coal-fired power plant and coal-port project on the fragile wetlands of Krabi.
The Thailand office of the active environment conservation group recently released a report “Krabi at the crossroads: Dirty Coal vs. Clean Renewable Energy”, emphasizing that coal is not the answer to Thailand’s energy security.
The group has called on authorities to scrap any/all coal projects in Krabi and embrace a decentralized hybrid renewable energy system that can bring electricity and development, without jeopardizing Krabi’s economy and environment.
“Thailand is at energy crossroads. People are keeping a close eye on the country’s decision makers – will they steer Thailand towards becoming a renewable energy leader or stay on the dirty old path of fossil fuels?” asked Tara Buakamsri, Thailand Country Director for Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “The proposed plan to build a new coal fired power plant and coal seaport in Krabi is clearly a step in the wrong direction.”
Under Thailand’s Power Development Plan (PDP 2010 Revision 3), an 870 mega-watt coal plant will be built at the location of an existing fuel oil power plant owned by the Electricity Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in Nuea Klong district of Krabi province. Currently, the coal power plant and coal seaport projects are being reviewed in an Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) process. The projects are slated for construction in 2015, and would be operational in 2019.
“The meager benefits from the proposed coal power plant would in no way compensate for the losses for Krabi’s economy, local livelihoods and tourism,” Tara added. “Krabi is not only a centre of marine biodiversity in the region, but it also provides vital livelihoods and revenue. The estimated annual use value of the Ramsar site in Krabi River Estuary is $9.7 million [B311 million] for recreation and tourism alone. This does not even include the factor of the economic value of fishing, aquaculture and agricultural related activities for the economy.”
The report launched today details how, after an inadequate Environment Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) process, the government and EGAT plan to expand coal in Krabi in spite of the area being renowned asa global marine biodiversity hotspot and a Ramsar site. In addition, the report also identifies impacts on Krabi’s local tourism as well as the local economy, the past hidden cost of coal for Krabi residents, and the failure in Environment Health Impact Assessment. More importantly, the report proposes a decentralized hybrid Renewable Energy system as a solution for Thailand’s energy future.
“Krabi is in the position to be a leader in developing a decentralized hybrid renewable energy system from its own power potential such as biomass, biogas, solar and wind,” said Asst. Prof. Dr.Jompob Waewsak, Director of Research Center in Energy and Environment, Thaksin University (Phatthalung Campus). “Thailand was among the first countries in Asia to introduce incentive policies for the generation of electricity from renewable energy (RE) sources. Programmes for small and very small power producers created predictable conditions for RE investors to sell electricity to the grid. This is a good start to expand investments in renewable energy, and should be pursued by the government.”
Greenpeace believes that, instead of constructing a coal plant, a decentralized hybrid renewable energy system is the solution for Krabi, supplemented by a rural and community-based development approach. The group says this is a win-win solution for the climate, local job creation, empowerment of communities, and people facing energy poverty, and gives Thai businesses a chance to grow. Greenpeace has urged EGAT and the government to stop pursuing the ill-advised and destructive coal project, to preserve Thailand’s fragile wetlands and the rich marine environment, and to fully implement its
energy efficiency development plan (2011-2030) and alternative energy development plan (2012-2021).
To learn more about the reasons why the coal seaport and power plant are being developed, i.e. Southern Thailand's energy demands,see this related story (also posted below) - http://www.thephuketnews.com/coal-development-plans-take-gloss-off-andamans-emerald-45389.php
Dear conscious consumers,
The fact is, you, and I, as electricity wasters in Phuket, are part of the problem. After all, guess where all of our power is coming from? Off-island fossil fuels! However, it is
possible and ever-necessary for you to make a statement against the development of coal infrastructure, simply by reducing your own grid-power dependency today – now!
One simple way you can do this is by installing a basic solar power (or wind) system at your home/villa at once. Tired of constant black-outs? With home renewable energy systems in Phuket already available between B30-70 per watt, this means for as little as B20,000 (about a 200-watt system with a battery and controller), you can have a basic “fossil fuel free” supplementary power system that will charge all your latest IT devices, lighting and even some fans or water pumps for the garden, for at least the next 20 years –
that works out to less than B100 a month!
Considering the dire situation in Krabi (which is happening because of 8 million plus
consumers straining the grid for more power), it doesn’t make sense not to make the investment in renewable energy. So while Greenpeace does their part to campaign, don’t wait for the government to act/react, do something for yourself, for Southern Thailand, now and today. To consult about solar/wind home system installations, consider phoning up MonoSun Technology on 076 263 717. – Steven Layne, Life Editor
http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-environment-energy-coal-projects-in-krabi-threaten-ecology-48742.php
The following is the article referenced above:
Coal development plans take gloss off Andaman's Emerald
ENVIRONMENT: The already-fragile environment of one of Southern Thailand’s top tourism gems, Krabi, is facing an imminent threat from developments in the local energy sector, warns a prominent environment watch-group.
By Steven Layne
Thursday, 27 March 2014
Stakeholders and villagers in Krabi’s Neua Khlong district have been deeply divided about the controversial plans of the Energy Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) to build a B60 billion coal-fired power plant in addition to a seaport for unloading and transporting imported coal.
Proponents argue that energy demand in Southern Thailand is already outstripping local supply, and that the two projects are necessary to increase EGAT’s electricity supplying capacity in Southern Thailand, by at least 870 megawatts when the plant is aimed to open in 2019.
EGAT currently operates four power plants in the South: a 340 MW natural gas, fuel and oil fed plant in Krabi’s Khlong Neua district; a 244 MW natural gas and diesel fired plant in Surat Thani’s Phun Pin district, a 731 MW natural gas plant in Songkhla’s Chana district; and an 824 MW natural gas plant in Nakhon Sri Thammarat’s Khanom district.
Although the combined maximum capacity of these plants is about 2.1 gigawatts (2,100 MW), EGAT has reported its actual operational capacity for the South at only 1.6GW, pointing out that the current demand exceeds 2.2 GW, which is why the region depends on the country’s central power grid to supply the excess 600 MW.
Through its subsidiary Electricity Generating Co (EGCO), EGAT is planning to open a new 930 MW natural gas plant adjacent to the site of the old Khanom plant, with the old plant to be decommissioned and the new plant to commence operations by 2016. Additionally, the state-owned power utility is looking to open a second Chana plant this year, which would add 800 MW to the grid when it opens.
Using as a precedence last year’s region-wide black-out that left more than 8 million people in the dark for hours – causing an estimated B10 billion in damages – EGAT insists that it must go forward with the development of Krabi’s coal sector.
Opponents, however, argue that the planned projects will pose dire consequences for Krabi’s coral reefs, sea grass, mangroves and nursing grounds for aquatic species – not to mention air pollution and further depletion of the planet’s finite supply of fossil fuels.
“EGAT must acknowledge the threats that coal brings to Krabi,” said Chariya Senpong, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Southeast Asia. “We fear that the public scoping for the Ban Klong Ruo Coal Seaport project will be no different to the one organised earlier for the coal plant.”
Ms Chariya is referring to a series of public hearings, the most recent held last Sunday (March 9), as part of development project requirement for conducting an environmental health impact assessment (EHIA).
“Both assessments [for the power plant and seaport] identified only the impacts that they [EGAT] are able to mitigate, and plays down the environmental, societal, and economic harm the project will cause. The reports will just be procedural compliance for EGAT to carry on with the project,” noted Chariya.
Planned for Krabi’s Taling Chan subdistrict – about half way between Mueang Krabi and Koh Lanta – the Ban Klong Ruo Coal Seaport project is part of EGAT’s strategy to find ways to transport imported coal from Indonesia, Australia and Africa, to the coal-fired plant in Khlong Kanan subdistrict, also in Khlong Neua district.
Last week at a press conference held in Bangkok, energy experts and representatives from the tourism association of Koh Lanta warned the public about serious consequences from the building of the Ban Klong Ruo Coal Seaport, which is planned for a site that lies in an area listed as wetlands of international importance.
“Krabi is the ‘Emerald of Andaman’, a world class tourist destination that is not only well-known for its beauty but is also rich in marine biodiversity,” said Therapot Kasirawat, Chairman of the Koh Lanta Tourism Association. “These projects are in opposition to the Krabi development plan which focuses on eco-tourism for economic development.”
According to a press release by Greenpeace, throughout the year, including in the [southwesterly] monsoon season, the unloading of coal from larger ships to smaller ones will take place at sea around Koh Lanta. The coal will be unloaded again at Ban Klong Ruo Coal Seaport to a 8.4 kilometre-long conveyor belt in order to deliver coal to the power plant.
In addition to the severe damage it could cause to Krabi’s natural resources, the watch-group says the project will also have detrimental consequences on sustainable livelihoods and local fisheries.
“Greenpeace is calling on EGAT to cancel all coal development in Krabi and create an Andaman Sanctuary for Environmental Protection in the sea area around Ranong, Phang-Nga, Krabi, Phuket and Satun, as well as to promote the development and investment in renewable energy throughout the Kingdom,” said Chariya.
Chariya and Greenpeace are appealing to all Thais and foreigners to take action by signing an online petition to ‘Protect Krabi’ at the website protectkrabi.org.
Meanwhile, everyone can have a positive impact on the environment by reducing their dependence on the energy grid – after all, every little bit helps.
http://www.thephuketnews.com/coal-development-plans-take-gloss-off-andamans-emerald-45389.php
Green Peace Thailand Facebook page - worth looking at even if you can't read Thai - https://en-gb.facebook.com/greenpeaceseath
No comments:
Post a Comment