Thailand rushes to avert April power woes

Thai authorities are scrambling to prevent a power shortage in April as Myanmar shuts down two gas fields.

Myanmar supplies one-fourth of the Thailand's natural gas demand.

Thailand's Energy Ministry will launch a campaign to encourage people to reduce electricity use during that period.

As the first measure to cope with this situation, PTT is ready to use 5 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas reserves, or 700 million cubic feet per day (mcfpd), to back up the country's electricity-generating system as Myanmar suspends gas production at Yetakun and Yanada from April 4-12 to repair its drilling rigs.

PTT chief executive officer Pailin Chuchottaworn said that Myanmar had informed the company about its planned suspension of gas supply to Thailand during the period, after the destabilisation of the rigs in the Andaman Sea.

Pailin said the temporary stoppage would see a decline of gas supply from the two fields amounting to 1.1 billion cubic feet per day. While PTT will use supplies of 700 mcfpd, it will talk with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand about sourcing other kinds of fuel to offset the remaining shortfall of 400 mcfpd.

In March and April last year, Thailand's power consumption hit new peaks six times. On April 25, consumption peaked at a record 25,682 megawatts, according to Egat, as the temperature soared to 38.4 degrees Celsius.

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