'Fully interconnected ASEAN power grid uneconomical'
'Fully interconnected ASEAN power grid uneconomical'
Dow Jones, Bangkok
Ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian nations
meeting next week in Malaysia will be told that an ambitious plan
for a fully interconnected ASEAN power grid isn't economical.
A study conducted by a committee on the ASEAN Interconnection
Master Plan has instead focused on grouping the power network
into two systems - the East and the West system, said Prutichai
Chonglertvanichkul, the chairman of the study. Members of the
committee of the ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study included
experts from ASEAN member utilities.
"The results of ASEAN Interconnection Master Plan Study
indicated that it is uneconomical to fully integrate the power
systems of all ASEAN countries," Prutichai told the Thai Power
2003 seminar being held in Bangkok this week. The seminar ends
later on Friday.
"The interconnection between Peninsular Malaysia and Sarawak
isn't economical. The study has therefore been focused on
grouping the network into two systems - the East System and the
West System," he said. Prutichai added the study also showed
interconnections between Borneo island and the Philippines were
uneconomical.
The East System consists of Brunei, Malaysia's Sabah and
Sarawak, Indonesia's west Kalimantan, and the Philippines.
The West system comprises Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia,
Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia, Indonesia's Sumatra and Batam, and
Singapore.
"The power systems in ASEAN countries therefore cannot
interconnect completely up to 2020," Prutichai said. But he noted
the power systems of the main land area including Indonesia,
Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam are expected to
be interconnected by 2014 to form a part of the ASEAN power grid.
The report will be submitted to ASEAN energy ministers and
senior officials attending the 21st ASEAN Ministers Energy
meeting, which will be held early July in Malaysia.
The study also shows 11 possible bilateral interconnection
projects, including Thailand-Laos, Thailand-Myanmar, and
Thailand-Cambodia.
The proposal for power interconnection among ASEAN member
countries was mooted about 20 years ago, but progress has been
slow.
Prutichai noted some issues that have to be considered in
cross-border interconnection include national security issues
regarding self-sufficiency and a different rate of progress in
structural reform of the respective countries' power sectors.
Thailand looks set to be the center of power interconnection
in the ASEAN region, thanks to its geographic location, which is
near cheap energy resources, said Prutichai.
Prutichai is also the assistant director of the transmission
system planning division at the Electricity Generating Authority
of Thailand.