BANGKOK, 21 May 2013 The country’s power producer has successfully restored power in 14 southern provinces, which have been abruptly put in the dark for hours on Tuesday night.
Deputy Governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) said that, by 11 pm of Tuesday, the power stations in the southern region have managed to send out electricity to all provinces, which have been hit by blackout since around 7 pm.
The biggest brownout ever was initially blamed on a failure in the high-voltage transmission power lines from the central to the Southern region through Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province.
At one point, the PM’s Office had to rush out to calm public anxiety, caused by rumors that the blackout was the work of the terrorists.
Mr. Thana said that, in order to restore power in blackout-hit areas, EGAT had to boost the electricity generation at its high-voltage plant in Songkhla while diverting power from various regional plants in Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani and Yala as well as from small private producers.
He added that South consumes around 2,200 mega-watts of electricity, which are higher than the regional generation capacity. Therefore, about 580 mega-watts are to be sent from the central region to accommodate the demand for power in the South.
The Fourth Region Army Chief Lt Gen Sakon Chuentrakun added that EGAT has explained the causes of the problem to the Army and all 14 provincial governors while the Army has broadcast the details of the situation via local radio networks, in order to calm public fears while dispatching military personnel and lighting equipment to help those in need, particularly in the southern border area.
