'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.