Egat to invest Bt300 bn by 2017
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The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) will spend Bt300 billion from this year to 2017 on the development of power plants and the transmission-line system, of which less than 50 per cent will be financed by borrowing and the rest by its o
Of the total, 55 per cent will be spent on establishing power plants and the rest on the transmission-line system. A total of Bt37 billion will be spent in the first year, Bt40 billion in the second, Bt64 billion in the third, Bt78 billion in the fourth, and Bt81 billion in the fifth year.
He said the strong baht had no impact on Egat as 98 per cent of its total debt of Bt160 billion was baht-denominated. Its total asset value is more than Bt430 billion, indicating its strong financial health. Therefore, there is no need for the government to guarantee loans for Egat as it can use its own credit.
Its power-plant investment includes the fourth unit in Wang Noi and the second unit in Chanan. Both are expected to be completely built by June next year. The investment will also include the establishment of the second unit of the North Bangkok plant, a coal-fired plant in Krabi, and the third and fourth units of the Lamtakong plant.
Sutas added that the state agency was in the public-hearing process with communities in Krabi on the plan to set up a plant in the province in an effort to alleviate their concerns about health impacts. The plant is expected to be completed in 2019.
