On 27 November 2020, HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn came to the headquarters of the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (Public Organisation), or TINT, in Ongkharak, Nakhon Nayok at 2pm to preside over the foundation stone-laying ceremony for construction of TINT’s Tokamak Workshop Building and also to explore the exhibition about TINT’s operations.
Nakhon Nayok Governor, Mr. Nattapong Sirichana; Minister of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation, Prof. Dr. Anek Laothamatas; Nakhon Nayok Provincial Court’s Chief Judge, Mr. Sompoch Ouangjan; 12th Army Circle’s Chief, Maj. General Dittaphong Charoenwong; Nakon Nayok’s Police Chief, Pol. Maj. General, Ittiporn Phothong; Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research & Innovation, Prof. Sirirurg Songsivilai, M.D., Ph.D; Chairman of TINT’s Executive Board of Directors, Thaweesak Koanantakool, and; TINT Executive Director, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Thawatchai Onjun, were on hand to welcome the princess.
The Tokamak Workshop Building will be constructed for the installation of Thai Tokamak-1 or TT-1 developed from HT-6M device. TINT of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research & Innovation was funded 214 million Baht by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand to develop the TT-1 from the main component of Tokamak HT-6M and its supporting systems. In addition, TINT has been granted 100 million Baht from the Thai Government. Of the amount, 54 million Baht is allocated for the development of tokamak’s engineering upgrade and innovation and 46 million Baht is for construction of the Tokamak Workshop Building. This two-storey building will be made of reinforced concrete. With about 670 square metres of space, it has two main parts: office and workshop. The workshop space is for the installation of TT-1 and its supporting systems. Construction of this building will be completed in 2022. Thailand has been conducting plasma and nuclear-fusion research to develop nuclear fusion that generates clean energy without any radioactive waste. Such power will benefit several industries. For the food industry, clean energy can eradicate pathogens in foods/crops. For the medical industry, plasma technology can treat infected and chronic wounds, stimulate creation of new blood vessels and tissues, treat facial skin, and dispose of waste.
TINT and the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) will work together in developing human resources for plasma and fusion power fields. As parts of the collaboration, ASIPP will offer scholarships to Thai students in order for them to study further and conduct relevant research under the supervision of world-class technology research centres. In addition, ASIPP will offer Thai researchers opportunities to join research projects and access world-class equipment/laboratories. Moreover, ASIPP will join hands with TINT in setting up a tokamak lab to be a regional learning hub. Research on nuclear fusion and plasma are considered as frontier research that will create knowledge, pursue excellence, and pave the way for more advanced technologies for the benefit of Thailand’s economy, society, and security. As it strengthens the country’s innovation systems, it will contribute to the development of technology-driven industries. Thailand thus will become an exporter of technologies and innovations. As the country is technologically empowered, it will have greater security and greater potential in the face of crises and technological disruption. Supported by the frontier research, Thailand will be able to advance technologies, including space, robotics, rail, medical and agricultural technologies. The increasingly advanced technologies will upgrade Thailand’s product and service standards and the country’s overall competitiveness in the global market.
For more information on fusion power and nuclear-technology benefits, please contact Corporate Communications Division via Tel. 0-2401-9889 and E-mail : pr@tint.or.th