South asked to cut power usage

South asked to cut power usage

SURATH THANI - Tourism and other key sectors in the South are being asked to reduce their energy use during the planned maintenance shutdown of gas supplies from the Thailand-Malaysia Joint Development Area (JDA) next month, because the industrial sector is unlikely to meet the planned target.

The SCG 100th Year Building is hailed as an energy-efficient and eco-friendly building.

Nattapon Nattasomboon, director-general of the Industrial Works Department (DIW), said the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) encouraged other sectors to lower their consumption during the supply disruption of natural gas from the JDA. 

The A18 block of the JDA will be shut down for maintenance from June 13 to July 10, affecting the power supply during peak hours from 1pm to 3pm and 6.30pm to 10.30pm. The southern region is usually affected the most as there are not many power plants in the South, increasing the chances for a blackout.

Last May, 14 southern provinces were hit by a blackout that lasted nearly five hours due to a natural gas supply disruption from Myanmar.

To minimise the possibility of a blackout, the Energy Ministry and the ERC aim to cut power use by 300 megawatts during those hours. Of the total, 170 MW was assigned to the industrial sector.

But Mr Nattapon said after discussion with industrial operators in the South they feel unable to reduce power consumption by 170 MW during peak hours. He said the industrial sector uses minimal electricity during evening peak hours, and are unable to lower use that much.

"Most industries close at 6pm, so they don’t use much electricity during evening peak hours," said Mr Nattapon.

Moreover, the early mortality syndrome outbreak at shrimp farms has sharply lowered electricity use, as seafood is the major manufacturing sector in the South. 

During last week's visit to the South, the DIW said sawmill operators committed to cutting their power use by 30 MW, while the cement industry promised a 15-MW cut.

Some entrepreneurs feel they have not been given enough information about the JDA disruption and are unprepared to cope with the shutdown.

"Until now I haven't seen much information from the government to inform the public about this issue. Consequently, companies have not prepared measures such as purchasing power generators for the disruption," said Tanawat Phankosol, executive director of rubber processing company Von Bundit Co.

The ERC plans to gather power generators with a total capacity of 100 MW for distribution to every sector during the JDA disruption.

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