Nod to Bt35-bn energy plan
The National Energy Policy Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong, yesterday approved a five-year expenditure plan for the fund for energy-conservation promotion totalling Bt35 billion, or Bt7 billion a year.
Under the plan, 50 per cent of the funds will be allocated to cut energy consumption, 45 per cent for alternative energy and 5 per cent for strategic management.
The council also agreed to authorise the fund’s board of directors to revise guidelines and regulations of its expenditure plan.
Kittiratt said the council also agreed with the Energy Ministry’s plan to proceed with the project to save energy in government buildings by way of an energy service panel. The body will provide a one-stop service for inspecting energy usage, setting conservation measures, and designing systems and helping secure sources of funds as well as assessing the project.
The council also agreed on bank loans or bond issuance for Bt20 billion to increase liquidity of the Fund Oil, which is used to subsidise prices for liquefied petroleum gas. The repayment period will be three years. In combination with an approved credit line of Bt10 billion, the fund totals Bt30 billion.
