Min of Energy set to enhance nation’s electricity transmission

The Ministry of Energy is set to enhance the country’s electricity supply in many regions for long-tern energy security, a top EPPO official says.

Mr. Twarath Sutabutr, Director-General of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) has revealed that the country’s current capacity in power transmission is not sufficient for national development and unable to cushion additional electricity transmission from alternative energy sources to be supplied by the private sector in the long run.

He said the EPPO had discussed the problem with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and both sides agreed that a 500 kilowatt transmission system be built urgently to facilitate energy transmission and accommodate the ASEAN electricity network.

The EPPO Director-General said that its transmission system enhancement plan had gone through Cabinet consideration twice, in August 2014 and July 2015. The project involves construction of six new transmission systems in three regions, namely the Northeast, the central region and the South. Once completed, the whole system will allow the country to receive 5,180 megawatts of electricity in the form of alternative energy nationwide.

The construction of new transmission lines in the specified regions will begin at different phases with the most recent one to begin next year in Ubon Ratchathani, Roi Et, and Chaiyaphum at the length of 348 kilometres.

NNT

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