Bangchak building dyke at Ayutthaya plant
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Bangchak Petroleum is constructing an earthen dyke to protect its solar-power plant in Bang Pa-in, Ayutthaya, from flooding.
President Anusorn Sangnimnuan said the 10-kilometre-long, 5.5-metre-high dyke surrounds the solar plant and the firm’s biodiesel distribution centre. The projected cost is Bt150 million, with construction due to be completed in the next quarter.
The firm hopes the dyke will boost the confidence of its insurer and persuade it to renew its coverage of the plant.
Bangchak’s biodiesel distribution centre and solar plant stopped operations last October because of the floods, before resuming normal operations at the end of the year. The temporary closure is estimated to have cost Bangchak Bt800 million in lost business opportunities.
Actual damage to its solar-power plant was Bt2.5 billion, but the plant’s insurance covered flood damage. The company intends to restore the plant completely by July.
Bangchak has informed the Provincial Electricity Authority of its plan to move the site of the 16-megawatt second phase of its solar-power project from Bang Pahan, Ayutthaya. If the state authority, which will purchase power from the plant, declines to allow this, Bangchak will have to invest about Bt100 million to build another dyke to protect the second phase.
