Recommissioning of Mae Moh Power Plant, Unit 4 to tackle with energy crisis
15 December 2022EGAT continues to decrease fuel costs in response to governmental policy. Due to ERC’s resolution, Mae Moh Power Plant, Unit 4 has been overhauled and recommissioned since December 11, 2022 to reduce LNG import, lessen the electricity burden of the public, and ensure the power system security.
Mr. Prasertsak Cherngchawano, Deputy Governor – Strategy of Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and EGAT’s spokesperson, revealed that according to the resolution of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), EGAT recommissioned Mae Moh Power Plant, Unit 4 to reduce the public impacts from rising fuel costs. EGAT conducted the commissioning test, including operation and pollutant removal systems, in line with regulations. Without environmental impacts, EGAT has operated the power plant under the EHIA approved by ERC. On December 11, 2022, Mae Moh Power Plant, Unit 4 started its commercial operation to reduce less LNG import, resulting in lowering fuel costs and burden of the public during the energy crisis.
In 2019, 150-MW Mae Moh Power Plant, Unit 4 had been decommissioned from the system until EGAT improved its availability for operation during December 2022 – 2025 with the expected generated electricity of 1,643 million kWh. It will help reduce fluctuating Spot LNG import by 10,800 million Baht, a solution to lower electricity cost for the public.
EGAT has adjusted its power generation to deal with the energy crisis, including postponing the decommissioning of Mae Moh Power Plant, Unit 8, until December 2025. During January – December 2022, it can reduce the power generation cost by 13,623 million Baht. The fuel for Bang Prakong Power Plant was changed to bunker oil and diesel oil during November 2021 – September 2022, reducing the power generation cost of 2,378 million Baht. Besides, EGAT adjusted the power purchase of Small Power Producers. At the end of August 2022, EGAT temporarily burdened the fuel costs for the public of 122,257 million Baht.