BANGKOK, 7 April 2013 The Energy Ministry is confident that there will be no power shortage during this year’s Songkran festival while stressing the need for Thailand to seek alternative power sources.
Minister of Energy Pongsak Ruktapongpisal spoke during the weekly “PM Yingluck Government Meets the People” TV program on Saturday that the country’s overall electricity consumption on April 5, which was the first day of Myanmar’s gas delivery suspension, was lower than predicted due to cooperation from all sectors in saving energy.
The suspension of natural gas from Myanmar, scheduled during April 5 and 14, is feared to cause power outage in the country.
Mr. Pongsak stated the government will continue the power savings campaign while keeping a close watch on Myanmar’s gas pipeline maintenance.
The minister believes the annual maintenance will be completed on schedule, or April 14.
Mr. Pongsak added the government will urgently inform the public of its plan to seek alternative power sources for electricity generation, which includes the construction of new power plants and the natural gas-powered electricity generation, in order for Thailand to achieve sustainable energy security in the future.
