State-run Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is committed to importing liquefied natural gas (LNG) by early next year after several delays and failure to come up with a clear-cut plan.
"We have decided to develop an LNG business starting in 2019," said Anuchat Palakawong Na Ayudhya, an Egat assistant governor.
Policymakers approved Egat's diversification into the gas segment in December 2016 after the local market was monopolised by PTT Plc for decades.
"Egat's initial import of LNG remains at 1.5 million tonnes a year, with the storage area rented from PTT's LNG receiving terminal in Map Ta Phut, Rayong," Mr Anuchat said. "Market testing will begin in 2019."
The LNG business plan includes a new floating storage regasification unit (FSRU), an enormous barge tank with a capacity of 5 million tonnes a year.
The FSRU project came about during the second round of public hearings a few weeks ago. The first round took place in March.
"We expect to conclude the report before a final investment decision is scheduled for early next year," Mr Anuchat said.
According to Mr Anuchat, who also heads community relations and environmental issues for Egat, the utility will hold a third round of public hearings on the FSRU project during August and September.
The public hearings will take place in the upper provinces along the coastline of the Gulf of Thailand, including Samut Sakhon, Samut Prakan, Chon Buri and Chachoengsao.
From the past two rounds, Egat found that there were many concerns from locals about site selection, construction technique, road traffic impact, safety measures during construction, operating processes and compensation measures.
ERM Siam Co is a consulting company hired by Egat to conduct a survey covering economic and social aspects and to personally interview locals before the public hearing.
The FSRU project is set to supply gas for two gas-fired power plants operated by Egat that are the country's main power supply for Bangkok and Greater Bangkok.
The two plants are North Bangkok (Nonthaburi) and South Bangkok (Samut Prakan), with combined capacity of 2,300MW (due to rise to 3,600MW by 2022).
Some power generation blocks in the two plants are nearing retirement and will be replaced.
The long-term details of Egat's gas business have yet to emerge. Policymakers expect the country's reliance on natural gas to gradually decline in favour of LNG.
"The power sector relies so much on natural gas, but the resources in the Gulf of Thailand and offshore Myanmar will soon deplete," Mr Anuchat said.