On 12 September 2014, Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha issued 11 policies with different perspectives to the legislature. The electricity policies were stated in topic number 6, focusing on transparency, environmental concerns, cooperation among neighbouring countries and long term economic competitiveness by encouraging public and private sector investments on power generating capacity, for instance, fossil fuel power plants and renewable energy. Topic number 8 focuses on the exploration of technologies and sciences regarding R&D and innovation, investments and infrastructure development. Topics under consideration include clean energy, rail transport system, electric vehicles and waste and water management.

Therefore, the Sub-committee on Load Forecast and Power Development Plan Formulation considered revising the Thailand Power Development Plan 2012–2030 (PDP2010 revision 3) in order to conform to the aforementioned policies, including infrastructure development and changes in domestic economic considerations, including the ASEAN Economic Community.

The Thailand Power Development Plan 2015–2036 (PDP2015) was formulated according to the framework and the assumptions approved by the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) on 15 August 2014. Thus, the time frame of the Thailand Power Development Plan 2015–2036 (PDP2015), the Energy Efficiency Development Plan (EEDP), and the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP) were harmonized with the National Economic and Social Development Plan (NESDP).

The Ministry of Energy (Thailand) intended to harmonize five integration master plans — 1) the PDP2015, 2) the EEDP, 3) the AEDP, 4) the Natural Gas Supply Plan, and 5) the Petroleum Management Plan — in order to systemize the country’s energy management.

Source: Thailand Power Development Plan 2015–2036 (PDP2015).

TABLE 1. ESTIMATED AVAILABLE ENERGY SOURCES

*Latest available data (2016)

** Solid, Liquid: Million tonnes; Gas: Billion m³; Uranium: Metric tonnes; Hydro, Renewable: TW

n.a. – not applicable.

Sources:

Fossil Fuels: Energy Statistics of Thailand by Energy Policy and Planning Office.

Renewables: Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.

TABLE 2. ENERGY STATISTICS

* Latest available data

** Energy consumption = primary energy consumption + net import (import–export) of secondary energy.

*** Solid fuels include coal, lignite.

—: data not available. Source: Energy Policy and Planning Office.

The Ministry of Energy (Thailand) together with the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) formulated a national Power Development Plan for the period of 2015–2036, known as PDP2015, within the framework of the Ministry of Energy’s policies. It replaces the former PDP2010, Revision 3. The PDP2015 was endorsed by the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) on 14 May 2015 and acknowledged by the Cabinet on 30 June 2015.

The themes of the PDP2015 emphasize improvement of power system reliability by reducing dependence on natural gas power generation, increasing a share of coal power generation via clean coal technology, importing power from neighbouring countries, and developing renewable energy sources. In addition, the plan aims at transmission and distribution system development in order to support renewable energy development and the greater ASEAN Economic Community. The strategies of PDP2015 focused on:

• Security and adequacy of power system following the policies of the Ministry of Energy (MoEN) on environmental concerns;

• Promotion of energy efficiency and renewable energy to be in line with the Energy Efficiency Development Plan (EE Plan 2015–2036) and the Alternative Energy Development Plan (AEDP 2015–2036);

• Promotion of co-generation system as an efficient means of electricity generation;

• Reasonable electric tariff.

The plan was used as a guide for planning the construction of EGAT’s new power plants, power purchase from independent power producers (IPPs), small power producers (SPPs) and neighbouring countries, as well as transmission system development to accommodate new power capacities. According to the current PDP2015, the net additional capacity between 2015 and 2036 is projected to be 57 459 MW (this amount includes the additional capacity from new power plant projects and some power purchased from SPPs and very small power producers (VSPPs)). When adding the net additional to the existing capacity of 37 612 MW (as of December 2014), subtracting the capacity of retired power plant from the system (24 736 MW), the total installed capacity becomes a planned 70 335 MW in 2036.

Thailand adopted the enhanced single buyer model (ESB) in which EGAT is the sole buyer of electricity, as shown in Figure 1. In the generation system, EGAT is in charge of a dominant electricity supply which presently owns approximately 40% (as of December 2015) of total power plant capacity in the country, while the rest are owned by private power companies in three categories: IPPs, SPPs, and VSPPs, including some portion of imported electricity from neighbouring countries. In addition to electricity generation and acquisition, EGAT is responsible for the country’s transmission system as well as its national and regional control centres. There are two distributing utilities in the Thai electricity system, namely the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA). The MEA is responsible for the distribution, sales and provision of electrical energy services in the Bangkok Metropolis, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakran provinces and the PEA serves the rest of the areas around the country.

Fig. 1. Enhanced single buyer model.

TABLE 3. INSTALLED CAPACITY, ELECTRICITY PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION

(1) Electricity transmission losses are not deducted.

* Latest available data.

EGAT – Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand; IPP – independent power producer; SPP – small power producer.

Source: EGAT.

TABLE 4. ENERGY RELATED RATIOS

(1) Net import/Total energy consumption.

* Latest available data.

n.a. – not applicable.

Sources: EGAT, Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO).

Thailand first considered a nuclear power plant in 1966. The option to build a 600 MW boiling water reactor (BWR) at AowPai within Chonburi Province was explored. However, after the discovery of natural gas off the Gulf of Thailand in 1978, the project was postponed indefinitely.

In 2007, consideration of nuclear power was reintroduced in the PDP2007 and in the superseding PDP2010. The PDP2010 planned for the construction of 5 000 MW of nuclear power, including 5 plants of 1 000 MW each.

In 2007, the National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) appointed the Nuclear Power Infrastructure Preparation Committee (NPIPC) and the Nuclear Power Programme Development Office (NPPDO) to prepare nuclear power infrastructure establishment plans (NPIEP) and a nuclear utility plan. From 2008 to 2011, Thailand worked on the pre-project phase and conducted a feasibility study, including selection of preferred sites. Self-evaluation on 19 issues of national nuclear infrastructure was also performed, and in December 2010, the IAEA conducted the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission in Thailand. The results from the self-evaluation and INIR mission suggested that Thailand was ready to make a commitment to nuclear power. However, there are several major gaps that should be addressed to continue overall progress in developing an appropriate national nuclear power infrastructure. In the short term, the Government should make a concrete commitment to safe, secure and peaceful implementation of nuclear power. The national nuclear legislation and regulations need to be enhanced to comply with international legal instruments. Also, the details of a human resource development plan (HRDP) are required for supporting the nuclear power project.

In early 2011, a “readiness report” was submitted for the Government to make the decision to “Go Nuclear.” However, after the accident at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, the Government announced that the decision to continue with the project was postponed for 3 years, and later changed to 6 years. The current PDP2015 includes 2 units of nuclear power plant, 1 000 MW each; the first nuclear power plant would be expected to be in operation in 2035, and the second one in 2036.

EGAT, under the Ministry of Energy, will be the operator of the nuclear power plants. The Office of Atoms for Peace under the Ministry of Science and Technology was also chartered as the regulatory body for all activities on radioactive sources and nuclear energy.

Fig. 2. Chart of nuclear organizations.

Not applicable.

The Ministry of Energy and EGAT are the main organizations responsible for the preparation and construction of the nuclear power plants.

Not applicable.

EGAT develops, owns and operates the national transmission system. The current grid system covering the entire country operates mainly at 500 kV, 230 kV and 115 kV voltages. The power system operation is divided into five geographical areas: metropolitan, central, northeastern, southern and northern regions. From the National Control Centre based at EGAT’s headquarters and five other regional control centres, EGAT plans, operates and controls the least costly dispatch of generated power from its power plants as well as from private power plants to load centres via its high voltage transmission lines. The grid system is presently linked to Laos by 115 kV and 230 kV lines and to Malaysia by 115 kV, 132 kV and the new 300 kV high voltage, direct current (HVDC) lines. In support of the Pre-Feasibility Study 2010 for the nuclear power plant project, the Transmission System Impact Study was performed for the selected site at the time when the nuclear power plant will be built. The study analyses were done to ascertain the impact of new nuclear power plant units on the performance and reliability of the existing transmission grid system and the requirements for reinforcement.

EGAT conducted a site survey. A consulting firm was engaged to collect data and survey and rank the candidate sites. Originally, 17 sites were selected as potential sites. The surveys were conducted on engineering, economic and environmental aspects. However, the site for the first nuclear power plant has not yet been finalized due to public opinion in the area.

Public acceptance in the local community is a key factor for the successful development of a nuclear power project. EGAT has actively implemented a number of activities to disseminate information on the energy situation in Thailand and “why nuclear power is a viable option for electricity generation”. The activities aimed to reach not only the local community, but also students, teachers, the media, religious leaders, etc. EGAT also collaborated with the office of non-formal and informal education in developing the textbook and teacher’s guide, “Electricity Usage in Daily Life”, which includes various types of electricity generation. The training the teacher program was conducted nationwide for sustainable learning. It is expected that this program will help generate public acceptance of nuclear power.

TINT and universities teaching nuclear sciences, technology and engineering or physics will conduct the R&D related to nuclear power plants. OAP will also conduct research important to nuclear safety and regulatory functions.

Not applicable.

The following is a list of national, regional and interregional activities related to the nuclear power programme under the IAEA’s technical cooperation programme that are effective and active in terms of project implementation:

1. THA/0/011: Strengthening Nuclear Science and Technology Education;

2. THA/0/012: Acquiring Regulatory Expertise in Preparation for the First Nuclear Power Plant and for a Research Reactor;

3. THA/0/013: Supporting the National Nuclear Engineering Education Centre;

4. THA/2/014: Technical Support for Upgrading/Establishing Infrastructure for Introduction of Nuclear Power;

5. THA4015: Upgrading/Establishing the Infrastructure Required for the Introduction of Nuclear Power;

6. RAS/0/047: Supporting Web-based Nuclear Education and Training through Regional Networking;

7. RAS/0/056: Providing Legislative Assistance;

8. RAS/4/029: Strengthening Nuclear Power Infrastructure and Planning;

9. RAS/7/016: Establishing a Benchmark for Assessing the Radiological Impact of Nuclear Power Activities on the Marine Environment in the Asia-Pacific region;

10. RAS/9/042: Sustainability of Regional Radiation Protection Infrastructure;

11. RAS/9/050: Education and Training in Support of Radiation Protection Infrastructure;

12. RAS/9/054: Strengthening National Regulatory Infrastructures;

13. RAS/9/056:   Strengthening Capabilities for Protection of the Public and the Environment from Radiation Practices;

14. RAS/9/057: Strengthening National and Regional Capabilities for Response to Radiological and Nuclear Emergencies;

15. RAS/9/059: Strengthening Nuclear Regulatory Authorities in the Asia and the Pacific Region;

16. RAS/9/060: Developing Human Resources in Nuclear Security;

17. Cooperation between EGAT and Japan Atomic Power Company (JAPC);

18. Cooperation between EGAT and China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co., Ltd (CGNPC);

19. Cooperation between EGAT and ENGIE/GDF SUEZ;

20. Cooperation between EGAT and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).

The Nuclear Energy for Peace Act 2016 established the Thai Nuclear Energy Commission for Peace (Thai NEC). The NEC is the regulatory authority of Thailand responsible for licensing and regulating radiation and nuclear facilities and activities. OAP also acts as the secretariat of the NEC and the secretary-general of OAP is the secretary of the commission. OAP staff performs regulatory functions such as regulation, licensing, assessment and inspection.

The licensing process for a nuclear facility according to the Nuclear Energy for Peace Act 2016 consists of site, construction, operating and decommissioning licenses. During the licensing process, the regulatory body shall conduct regulatory reviews, assessments and inspections to ensure that the applicant or licensee complies with licensing and design bases, including safety analyses, regulations and safety criteria.