FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Energy Ministry ready to clarify the state’s contribution to power generation

Energy Ministry ready to clarify the state’s contribution to power generation

The Energy Ministry has drafted a letter addressed to the Ombudsman’s Office clarifying the state’s contribution to the country’s electricity generation.

Kulit Sombatsiri, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said on Friday that the letter was in response to the Ombudsman’s suggestion that the ministry revise its Power Development Plan (PDP) for 2018-2037 by boosting the state’s contribution to at least 51 per cent. 
He said once the response is ready it will be submitted for review by the new Energy Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong. 
The letter explains that the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) exclusively owns the power lines across the country, indicating that the state has invested at least 50 per cent in the country’s electricity generation system. 
If the Ombudsman still finds the explanation inadequate, the ministry might consider asking the Cabinet to see if the case should be submitted to the Constitution Court, he added. 
The Ombudsman recently told the ministry that the 2018 PDP allowed private companies to share the role of producing electricity, which has resulted in reducing the state’s contribution to less than 50 per cent. It also said that this contravenes the second paragraph of the 2017 Constitution’s Article 56. The Ombudsman has asked the ministry to find a way of complying with the charter within 120 days.

TAGS
nationthailand