Egat insists on going ahead with Thepa plant
Construction of the Thepa coal-fired power plant is set to begin in the second quarter of next year, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand said, even though many locals have refused to sell their land despite facing threats. Egat has so far insisted that it will build the 2,200-megawatt power plant in Songkhla’s Thepa district, despite strong protests from local people. The Environment and Health Impact Assessment for both the plant and coal transport has also not been approved by the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office. Ratanachai Namwong, Egat’s deputy governor on power plant development, said construction of the plant will begin by May next year at the latest, otherwise plans to have it operating by April 2021 as per the Power Development Plan 2015 will be delayed.
