EGAT Mae Moh welcomes Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry to study the potential of CCS for global carbon neutrality
17 January 2023Department of Mineral Fuels, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and PTT Exploration and Production Public Company Limited (PTTEP) welcomed the company from Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry visiting EGAT Mae Moh to observe the electricity generation process and discuss the potential of Carbon Capture Storage (CCS) in Mae Moh Mine in order to achieve carbon neutrality.
On January 13, 2023, Mr. Izuru Kobayashi, Deputy Director – General for International Policy on Carbon Neutrality of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, executives of Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security, and related agencies from Japan visited EGAT Mae Moh Mine and Power Plant in Lampang Province and discussed the potential of CCS in Mae Moh Mine. The group was welcomed by Mr. Supalak Parn-anurak, Deputy Director – General of Department of Mineral Fuels; Mr. Nitus Voraphonpiput, EGAT Deputy Governor – Fuel; and executives of EGAT Mae Moh, PTTEP, and Defense Energy Department. Additionally, Mr. Prajuab Doncommul, EGAT Assistant Governor – Mae Moh Mine and representatives from Department of Mineral Fuels reported on the details of the project of CCS in Mae Moh Mine.
Mr. Nitus Voraphonpiput, EGAT Deputy Governor – Fuel said that this meeting was a great opportunity for both countries to discuss the potential and possibility of CCS project in Mae Moh Mine. Initially, the geological structure deep underground Mae Moh Mine has the potential to store carbon dioxide in liquid form. Currently, the project is in the research stage and needs to conduct further surveys. Receiving support from Japan will help CCS develop more concretely and drive Thailand and the world toward the goal of sustainable carbon neutrality.
Representative of Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said that developing CCS in Mae Moh Mine is important and in line with the national development policy. After further in-depth researches, there should be a meeting between Japan and Thailand governments to discuss the development of CCS as well as other technologies in the future.
Asst. Prof. Dr. Suparit Tangparikul, Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Chiang Mai University, the CO2 geological storage researcher for Mae Moh Mine reported on the progress of the survey of Mae Moh Basin. For the first time in Thailand, samples from rock layers with a depth of over 1 km are being tested for carbon dioxide storage. The initial results show that there is potential for CCS which will require further research.
This site visit and meeting with Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is a continuation of the 5th Japan-Thailand Energy Policy Dialogue (JTEPD) on January 12, 2023 between the Ministry of Energy and the Japanese government. The Ministry of Energy saw the potential for CCS in Mae Moh Mine which is in line with the cooperation presented in the white paper between Thailand and Japan in order to achieve carbon neutrality and enhance the relationship and collaboration on energy in both countries.