Egat explains purchase of power station parts 'not vegetable carts'
Purchase of parts for power station equipment were misunderstood as buying of vegetable carts, a senior official of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) clarified after questions were raised by an activist.
Egat assistant governor and deputy spokesman Charan Khumngeon said that the parts were ordered for a high voltage power station. "Egat would like to clarify that the said equipment is SF6 Gas Filling Cart Set that is used with Egat's high-voltage power stations at a voltage of 500,000 volts."
He explained that the mobile electric insulating gas filling device consists of five devices: a movable gas tank (SF6 Gas Cylinder Cart) that can support up to 500kg of a gas tank and can be adjusted to high-low level; a coupling/adaptor, which is used to change the connector set from Japanese manufacturer; a filling hose which has high-pressure resistant property and is moisture-proof; pressure gauges with SF6 regulator that can adjust and control the gas pressure to fill the gas with the equipment, and a coupling/adaptor set with safety valve, which is a connection device between the gas filling set and the electrical device with 500,000 volts. It is resistant to high-pressure gas with a leak prevention system for the safety of people and equipment.
The mobile electric insulating gas filling equipment imported with GIS high voltage electricity stations from Japan is priced at approximately Bt152,000 per set, including equipment, import duties, value-added tax, and foreign exchange rates.
Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong had ordered a probe into the alleged purchase of overpriced vegetable carts under the "Supply and Construction of 500/230 kV(GIS)" project after activist Srisuwan Janya displayed an invoice for Bt150,000 each.
Srisuwan produced Egat's purchase document that stated the high price of the cart. He added that such a cart should cost around Bt2,000 if bought in the local market.