BANGKOK, Feb 19 – Thailand’s cabinet today resolved that state agencies should reduce their energy consumption by 10 per cent, otherwise they will face budget reductions, government spokesperson Tossaporn Serirak announced today.
The resolution also bans the wearing of jackets for cabinet members during meetings.
The move came in the wake of warnings of possible hours-long power outages in the first half of April due to an expected disruption of the natural gas supply from Myanmar.
The cabinet also resolved that government offices set an example for the public, starting with raising air conditioners thermostats to 25 degrees Celsius, rather than lower temperatures.
Meanwhile, PTT Natural Gas Business Unit deputy managing director Chakri Burakanon said the firm is considering how to locate gas of about 200,000 cubic feet to generate power in the system in order to offset the lack of Myanmar gas supply, at some 100 million cubic feet/day, and affecting Thailand’s power generation of 4,100 megawatts/day.
Mr Chakri said PTT expects to generate extra gas from its Gulf of Thailand fields at around 100 million cubic feet/day, while at the same time to reduce gas usage in natural gas separation plants by another 100 million cubic feet/day, making 200 million cubic feet/day of gas available.
PTT will also find more sources of liquefied natural gas (LNG), he added.
