ASEAN power grid master plan to be ready soon

ASEAN power grid master plan to be ready soon

Dow Jones, Bangkok

A master plan for the power grid interconnection among member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is expected to be finalized in January, a senior Thai electricity official said late on Wednesday.

The preliminary study shows there will be benefits from the interconnection of power grids between Thailand and Malaysia, as well as Malaysia and Indonesia, which will take place by 2008, said Sitthiporn Ratanopas, governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

Another connection is between Thailand and Vietnam, which could be connected by 2012, he added.

The preliminary study covered electricity demand growth and supply in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. A study on Cambodia, Myanmar and Singapore is needed to be conducted before the master plan can be concluded in January, said Sitthiporn.

The preliminary study shows that power grid interconnection would reduce the need for building new capacity by around 5,990 megawatts during 2007-16, from the estimated new capacity of 70,182 MW if there is no interconnection, said Sitthiporn.

If the four countries link their power grids, they can also reduce their power reserves, he added.

Electricity demand from Asean countries stood at 62,200 megawatts last year. It is projected to grow to 116,000 MW by 2010 and then to 163,000 MW by 2015, said Sitthiporn.

Asean countries have been working on a transnational electricity supply grid since initiated in 1997, with an aim to form the regional electricity grid by 2020.

Asean is made up of Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and Cambodia.