Quality, Safety, Health, and Environment
In addition to our mission of electricity generation, EGAT consistently ensures that our operations are managed sustainably, effectively, and efficiently. In order to achieve this, EGAT commits to regulations and laws of Quality, Safety, Health, and Environment.
Occupational Health and Safety
Effective occupational health and safety management helps reduce and control risks across all operational processes which may lead to work-related accidents and loss of life of the person who is an employee, contractor, or relevant stakeholder. It also reduces loss of property and damage on important work process which may affect the business continuity as well as the reputation and trustworthiness of the organization.
EGAT has formulated the policy on quality, welfare, safety, occupational health, and environment to enhance work processes for greater efficiency. The policy aims to appropriately meet the needs and expectations of stakeholders, ensure a safe and stable working environment, promote good health, and support environmental friendliness. The organization is committed to continuous management in accordance with international standards. In addition, operational manuals and procedures have been developed to guide practices across the organization in compliance with relevant laws and regulations.
Greenhouse Gas Management
In 2024, EGAT continued to move toward a low-carbon organization. EGAT Carbon Neutrality Roadmap has been carried out to achieve a short-term target of reducing CO2 emissions per unit of generated electricity (CO2 intensity) by 30% when compared to 2021, and a long-term target of achieving Carbon Neutrality by 2050.
The assessment of greenhouse gas emissions (corporate carbon footprint) of EGAT, which covers power plants, mine, dams, offices, and transmission system, is conducted with accuracy and transparency, complying with ISO 14064-1:2018. In 2024, the total amount of greenhouse gas emit directly from EGAT’s operations and indirectly from the energy use (scope 1 and 2) was approximately 34.86 MtCO2eq (under the process of verification by external auditor). Moreover, the information on corporate greenhouse gas emissions was applied for the eco-efficiency assessment as a guideline for sustainable production and consumption.
For 2024, EGAT set the target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction from EGAT’s operations at 6 MtCO2 which was the target of Nationally Determined Contributions of Thailand. By implementing several measures such as electricity generation from renewable energy, efficiency improvement for electricity generation, and standard criteria and the attachment of Label No. 5 for energy efficiency, EGAT could reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions of 10.46 MtCO2 (based on emissions factor of transmission system of 2023).
Furthermore, EGAT has taken part in the greenhouse gas emissions reduction of the industrial sector through the measure of using cement substitutes in ready-mixed concrete and selling fly ash to the cement industry. EGAT has the process of Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) for greenhouse gas emissions reduction. The result is being verified by EGAT Committee on Greenhouse Gas Management prior to submitting to the Energy Policy and Planning Office to be collected in the Thailand report.
Air Quality Management
Air pollutant emissions resulting from fuel combustion in thermal power generation processes, such as nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and particulate matter, are difficult to avoid and may pose health risks as well as contribute to climate change. Therefore, EGAT places great importance on air quality and pollution control to minimize health risks for stakeholders and to preserve the integrity of surrounding ecosystems.
EGAT strives to control the amount of air pollution released from the stack of the power plant to be not exceeding the limit and criteria specified in the Notification of Ministry of Industry, B.E. 2547 (2004) on the Amount of Air Contaminants Released from the Plant Which Generates, Transmits or Sell Electricity and the Notification of Ministry of Natural Resource and Environment, B.E. 2566 (2023) on the Standard for Control of Air Pollution Released from the Power Plant. Moreover, EGAT has conducted inspection of PM2.5 from the stack of power plant, control of the efficiency of the operation of flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system of all units of Mae Moh Power Plant, and has used the best available technology to keep the pollution release at the minimum.
The Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) is used to measure the amount of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM) throughout 24 hours in order to control the air quality from electricity generation to comply with the requirements of law and with the least impact. The result is reported to Department of Industrial Works and surrounding communities through display screens, public notice boards at the power plant entrance, and EGAT’s power plant website.
Moreover, EGAT has installed the Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Systems (AAQMS) to measure the air quality on 24 hours-basis as well as the interval air inspection twice a year to monitor the ambient air quality of the community area around the power plant. Inspection of the total suspended particulate (TSP), PM-10, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is conducted with modern equipment and technology and the inspection result is made available to the community. From the inspection, if there is a tendency that the community will be affected, the measuring system will give a signal to the power plant to solve the problem immediately and to control the environmental quality without delay.
Water Management
EGAT has guidelines for using water resource in the electricity generation process and in consumption in the organization for the maximum benefit, considering the impact which may happen from activities of the organization to society and environment in all processes. EGAT’s water management encompasses all stages from withdrawal and usage to external discharge. Moreover, EGAT complies strictly with law and measures.
Prior to the implementation of the power projects, EGAT has conducted assessment of the impact from the water use such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Impact and Health Assessment (EHIA). From the past experience, every water source can accommodate the water used by the power plant both in draught and rainy season without causing any impacts or water conflict to surrounding community. Moreover, EGAT has taken measures in preventing and restoring water sources from physical and biological impacts such as installing screens at the pumping point to prevent aquatic animal and larvae carried by the water into the power plant.
EGAT has the quality control system of water discharged from the power plants by water treatment system. Water will be treated to be of the value complying with the requirements of the standard prior to transferring to a clarifier in the power plant and discharged into the permissible water source nearby. Some power plants use the treated wastewater to water the lawn and trees in the power plants without discharging outside. Only the water drained from the cooling tower with reduced temperature will be released to the water source.
For the water discharged from hydropower plants, EGAT has used the technology to predict the water situation and planning for different water situations such as flooding or drought in integrating the water information of the public and private organizations under the supervision of Office of the National Water Resources to ensure EGAT’s operations have no effect on the rights of stakeholders in water use and comply with applicable law and guidelines on operation according to the master plan for water management under the national strategy. In the event of unavoidable impact, EGAT has assistance measures in terms of machinery and tools as well as consumption goods.
Waste Management
EGAT gives high importance to the management of waste generated throughout all operational processes in order to prevent and minimize potential impacts on stakeholders across the value chain, environment, and other organisms in the ecosystem.
EGAT has announced the policy of Circular Economy to be followed by employees of all units. The policy emphasizes efficient resource utilization, waste reduction, and increased reuse and recycling of materials, with the ultimate goal of achieving zero waste to landfill. In alignment with this policy, EGAT has developed a Circular Economy Strategic plan and initiated three pilot projects as follows:
- Utilization of fly ash, bottom ash, and gypsum project
- Creation of value-added leonardite from the mine project
- Industrial waste management to achieve “Zero Waste to Landfill” project
EGAT has stringently complied with laws, related requirements, environmental management system according to ISO 14001 and Circular Economy principle as well as preventive and corrective measures of environmental impact and monitoring measure of environmental impact of each project. Waste management report is sent to the permissible authority within the due date. Moreover, EGAT’s waste management is monitored by the internal audit system, assessed by external assurance, and reviewed by the Management in accordance with the environmental management system.
