In light of the indefinite delay in development of the Krabi coal-fired power plant, coupled with rising demand for electricity in the South, energy policymakers are pushing to complete a 63.2-billion-baht high-voltage transmission line (HVTL) project by year-end.
"According to Energy Ministry estimates, shortages of electricity supply in southern provinces will probably start in mid-2019, and the HTVL development will provide a stopgap until the new plant is ready to feed the power grid in the area," said Kijja Sripatthangkura, deputy governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat).
Previously, Egat had planned to open bidding for its HVTL network, which will feed power from the Ratchaburi power plant to the grid in Prachuap Khiri Khan, upgrading from 230 kilovolts to 500kV this year.
It will also develop a 500kV HVTL from Prachuap Khiri Khan to Bang Saphan to Surat Thani through Phuket.
The new line is designed to be able to feed the top tourist provinces in mid-2019.
"We are now focusing on this project and attempting to open bidding within the second quarter with no delay," Mr Kijja said.
He said another HVTL project from Surat Thani to Thung Song and Songkhla worth 35.4 billion baht is expected to seek cabinet approval in March. The design details and auction terms of reference will be completed in 2019.
All extension transmission lines will also help serve the transmission demands of the numerous renewable power plants in the areas, Mr Kijja said, adding that the southern provinces are populated with large palm plantations that can be used to fuel biomass power plants.
No one knows whether the 800-megawatt Krabi coal-fired power plant will be built or not.
Over the weekend, protesters pressured the government to retract its decision to allow the project to proceed on Friday and order Egat to re-conduct the environmental and health impact assessment (EHIA) report.
As a result, the project has been derailed from the commercial operation schedule, from mid-2019 to the end of 2021, which is the soonest Egat can construct the new supply.
The 800MW coal-fired power plant in Krabi has been planned in order to serve the rapid rise of demand in the South, boosted by the influx of tourist arrivals.
Twarath Sutabutr, director-general of the Energy Policy and Planning Office, said the South's power demand has grown at an average 4.2% a year over the past decade, compared with 2-3% annual growth in the central region.
"Andaman Sea provinces are at risk of power blackouts because there is no major regional power supply," Mr Twarath said.
There is only one bunker oil power plant in Krabi that can generate a maximum of 315MW, much lower the present demand of 800MW.
Mr Kijja said Egat has also prepared three long-term solutions if the Krabi coal-fired plant is scrapped: first, the development of a floating storage and re-gasification unit (FSRU) in the Andaman Sea; second, modify fuel usage of existing Krabi bunker-oil plants to natural gas and increase their capacity; third, build another gas-fired plant.
All options put the country at risk of relying on natural gas and would create high costs from the import of gas.