BANGKOK, Oct 22 — After chairing a National Energy Policy and Planning Committee meeting at Government House today, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said the government will promote the energy production from garbage and energy crops to reduce the amount of imported gas and oil.
The government will try to convince the public to welcome biomass and garbage-produced energy, he said.
Construction of more waste-to-energy plants will be a government goal.
The price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) would gradually rise to reflect global prices and protect market mechanisms, he said.
Longer-term subsidies damage the country, he said, explaining why the government is moving toward more responsible energy-use.
Kurujit Nakornthap, deputy permanent secretary for energy, said Thailand imported energy at more than Bt1 trillion annually and that imported crude and natural gas accounted for 85 per cent and 15 per cent respectively of total demand in the country.
In addition, nearly 70 per cent of Thailand’s electricity generation depended on natural gas, and the proportion is rising even as deposits are dropping, he said, expressing concern.
To avoid an energy crisis, the Department of Mineral Fuels is inviting applications for petroleum exploration and production concessions on 29 blocks inland and in the Gulf of Thailand, Mr Kurujit said.
