Thai civil groups fight against nuclear plants

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Thai civil groups fight against nuclear plants

Movement spurred by radiation leak in Japan

Published: 16/03/2011 at 03:36 AM
Newspaper section: News

Thai civil groups have joined the global community in opposing the construction of nuclear power plants in the wake of a series of explosions at the quake-hit Fukushima power complex in Japan.

Environmentalists and local villagers from provinces shortlisted as potential sites for nuclear power plant construction have formed an alliance called the Network of People Against Nuclear Power Plants to protest against the planned construction of nuclear power plants in the country.

Under its 20-year power development plan, Thailand would have five nuclear power plants with a combined generating capacity of 5,000 megawatts by 2020-2025.

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Writer: Apinya Wipatayotin & Yuthana Praiwan

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win14
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Discussion 8 : 16/03/2011 at 02:52 PM8
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Up to now, Thailand can still meet its energy demand by importing electricity from neighboring counties such as Laos and Burma. 30% of electricity used is imported from Burma where most of their people do not have 24 hr electricity in their home. Thailand needs to consider for the time when they cannot exploit its neighboring countries and needs to prepare in advance for that time...
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Eric
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Discussion 7 : 16/03/2011 at 11:53 AM7
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The Japan plants are built in the 70s. It is 50 years since and safety and containment designs are very much improved. We just have to consider this fact carefully. Thailand just can't depend on a rapidly decreasing fossil fuel which will cost more. It is a catch 22 situation. We just can't count out nuclear energy.
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faceless1
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Discussion 6 : 16/03/2011 at 11:18 AM6
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Every country with nuclear facilities has now begun a complete reassessment of their systems in view of the ongoing "apocalypse" in Japan. Before doing anything more, Thailand must wait for the results of those analyses and strictly comply with whatever new international standards are recommended. If they have already quietly signed contracts with suppliers, these should be put on hold or scrapped. This is a serious issue and not to be played in the "Thai style".
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attapon
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Discussion 5 : 16/03/2011 at 08:53 AM5
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The Surayud Chulanont government had approved 10 billion Baht for studying the feasibility of nuclear power plants for Thailand.
But many people can have this answer (of feasibility) with zero Baht only.
This is another example of state money spent unnecessarily.
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rfukata
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Discussion 4 : 16/03/2011 at 08:21 AM4
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easier said than done here, its not like building tuktuks.
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tansri
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Discussion 3 : 16/03/2011 at 07:00 AM3
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We need to be transparent on a few info for current and projections: Energy demand and supply profile, economics, pros and cons of each type of energy supply. About half of Thailand energy requirement is imported. Our domestic natural gas, hydro, lignite production is reaching peak and declining. Once we have all the info, it's the people in the end that will decide not the Govt. This is not the time to discuss nuclear plant. Let's focus on helping our friend to return from this catastrophe and learn from this incident.
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scarfman
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Discussion 2 : 16/03/2011 at 05:06 AM2
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Khun Sodsai, your line of thinking is correct. I am positive if Thailand went nuclear, we would not have to wait for a natural disaster before our first nuclear mishap. 20-30% of the construction budget will be siphoned off to corruption - let's not kid ourselves that it won't (just look at the airport - seemingly nice on the surface, but substandard in so many ways on the inside). That 20-30% will disappear from the budget at the cost of standards and ultimately safety... are we really ready to accept the risk that follows?
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loong
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Discussion 1 : 16/03/2011 at 04:36 AM1
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Nuclear power plant is safe enough if one can built it under water table or salt dome. But the cost will not justify benefit. Anyone, pros and cons exposed to this monster radiation, their gene are gone forever. No nuclear power plant please. I wouldn't mind living in stone age condition.
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Thai civil groups fight against nuclear plants | Bangkok Post: news