Biodiversity
EGAT is committed to advancing its mission of maintaining the country’s energy security while recognizing its responsibility toward the environment and society. This responsibility includes the protection and conservation of biodiversity, which forms a vital foundation for ecosystem integrity and sustainable development. EGAT’s approach is aligned with the Global Biodiversity Framework and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
| 2025 Targets | Performance |
| ● Completion of a report on plant species diversity in mine rehabilitation areas. | ● A report on plant species diversity in mine rehabilitation areas was completed. |
| ● Establishment of baseline values for the types of plant species diversity in mine rehabilitation areas. | ● Baseline biodiversity values (Shannon-Wiener’s Index) were established for target mine rehabilitation areas, such as 1.501 for the forest area at the northeastern overburden dump and 1.576 for the forest area at the northwestern overburden dump. |
Management Approach
Recognizing that its activities may affect the environment, ecosystems, and biodiversity, EGAT has adopted a Biodiversity Policy to guide the responsible management of natural resources and biodiversity. Potential impacts may include the loss of natural areas that serve as food sources, habitats, and breeding grounds for plants and animals because of new project development and open-pit mining. They may also include the loss of aquatic organisms and juvenile aquatic life due to water withdrawal for production processes and power plant cooling systems, as well as the fragmentation of wildlife habitats caused by transmission lines traversing forest areas.
To ensure a systematic approach, EGAT applies the Mitigation Hierarchy as follows:
Avoid
EGAT carefully undertakes site selection for projects from the planning stage to avoid ecologically sensitive areas and areas of significant biodiversity value. Environmental impact assessments are also conducted by experts, and the findings are used to design and implement appropriate measures to avoid impacts on natural resources and ecosystems from the outset.
Minimize
EGAT establishes environmental prevention and mitigation measures related to biodiversity impacts arising from project operations. These include, for example, the installation of screens at power plant water intake points to prevent juvenile aquatic animals from entering the system and to reduce the loss of biological resources. EGAT also continuously monitors environmental impacts, using the data collected to track trends and changes in biodiversity on an annual basis. At the same time, EGAT holds tripartite meetings once or twice a year, as required under the prescribed measures, to report environmental performance, including biodiversity-related issues, to government agencies and community leaders. In addition, EGAT promotes the participation of communities and local government agencies in environmental monitoring and provides complaint channels, together with appropriate corrective actions
Restore
EGAT undertakes the restoration of natural resources and ecosystems potentially affected by project operations, with the aim of restoring environmental conditions as closely as possible to their original state. Such efforts include aquatic species release activities, tree planting activities in EGAT power plant and dam areas, and the rehabilitation of mine areas following changes in land use to promote the recovery of environmental conditions as far as practicable. Land use in rehabilitated mining areas comprises three categories, namely reforestation, water retention areas, and recreational and tourism development areas, such as botanical gardens and the Mae Moh Lignite Study Center Museum.
Offset
Certain sections of EGAT’s power transmission network development projects must pass through additional conservation forest areas and require the removal of some trees for construction. EGAT therefore establishes and implements compensatory reforestation measures to offset such impacts. For example, under the 500-kilovolt Border Transmission System Project (Nan Province area), Nan 2 – Mae Moh 3 (specifically the section crossing additional conservation forest areas), EGAT supported compensatory reforestation over a total area of 4,800 rai, in coordination with the Royal Forest Department and local communities during 2019–2020, covering four provinces: Phayao, Lampang, Phrae, and Nan. In addition, under the 500-kilovolt Tha Li – Khon Kaen 4 Transmission System Project, EGAT worked in coordination with the Royal Forest Department to complete compensatory reforestation in 2021 over a total area of 600 rai in Ban Huai Krai, Khok Yai Subdistrict, Tha Li District, Loei Province.
Alongside managing the direct impacts of its own activities, EGAT also participates in other conservation efforts, such as forest fire suppression, the creation of firebreaks, and the deployment of artificial reefs made from retired electrical insulators under the EGAT Fish Home Project, which aims to restore marine ecosystems through the maximum beneficial use of end-of-life materials. EGAT also places importance on ensuring that communities benefit from the shared use of natural resources, for example by providing opportunities for communities to engage in fisheries-related livelihoods and tourism activities in reservoir areas, generating income while supporting natural resource conservation.
Another example is the development of the Hydro-Floating Solar Hybrid Project, an environmentally friendly solar power generation project that reduces reliance on fossil fuels and lowers greenhouse gas emissions. Solar panels are installed on floating platforms in EGAT dam reservoirs, thereby avoiding encroachment on land-based areas, community agricultural land, and forest areas. Environmentally friendly materials are also selected, including double-glass solar panels, which feature glass on both sides to prevent moisture ingress and help protect water bodies from potential contamination, as well as floating platforms made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE), which is the same material used in water supply pipes and is considered environmentally safe. In addition, the tilt angle of the solar panels is designed to allow sunlight and oxygen to penetrate into the water below, thereby avoiding impacts on water quality or the survival of aquatic life in the area.
Key Biodiversity Actions in 2025
1. Raising Awareness
Examples include:
- The 2nd Bird Walk with EGAT, under the theme “Love Nature”, held at Srinagarind Dam, Kanchanaburi Province, and the 3rd Bird Walk with EGAT, under the theme “Yam Kham Doo Dao, Yam Chao Doo Nok (Stars by Night, Birds by Day)”, held at Mae Moh Mine, Lampang Province.
- The 3rd EGAT Biodiversity Rangers Youth Camp, under the theme “Samphat Pah, Samphat Cheewit (Experience the Forest, Experience Life)”, held at Bhumibol Dam, Tak Province.
- Awareness-building activities were conducted in collaboration with partner networks, such as the North Bangkok Power Plant Youth Environmental Network. Support was also provided for the installation and maintenance of artificial nesting boxes for Alexandrine parakeets at Suan Yai Temple in Bang Kruai District and Wat Amphawan in Bang Yai District, Nonthaburi Province.
2. Signing a New Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
EGAT signed a new MOU with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) to continue the existing collaboration on biodiversity conservation. The collaboration focuses on integrating and supporting biodiversity-related initiatives, as well as promoting the sustainable conservation and restoration of natural resources and biodiversity.
3. Advancing Areas Toward OECMs
EGAT assessed the potential of relevant areas and prepared physical, biological, and land-use information, including the proposal of the rehabilitated area in the northeastern part of the Mae Moh Lignite Mine, Lampang Province, for consideration as an Other Effective area-based Conservation Measure (OECM) in accordance with the guidelines of the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP).
This area was selected as one of Thailand’s eight OECM pilot sites, reflecting the integration of biodiversity conservation with sustainable energy development through community participation, collaboration with government agencies, and the use of scientific information to support decision-making. This effort also contributes to the 30×30 target at both the national and global levels under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
4. Development of the EGAT Biodiversity Database
EGAT is developing the EGAT Biodiversity Database to serve as a data resource for biodiversity management and future area-based conservation planning within EGAT sites. The database is expected to be completed in 2026.