Year 2009

 November 2009

Egat signs nuclear MoU with China

ENERGY

By NAREERAT WIRIYAPONG

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand has signed an agreement with a Chinese developer of nuclear power technology, paving the way for the country's first atomic power plant, says governor Sombat Sarntijaree.

Egat yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Chinese state-owned China Guangdong Nuclear Power Group (CGNPC) and CLP Holding Co, under which they agreed to a knowledge and information exchange on nuclear-power technology over the next three years.

CGNPC has developed its own nuclear-power technology over the past decade and has sold more than 1,000 pressure reactors to date.

Areva, the world's leader in nuclear power technology, co-developed the Chinese technology, said Mr Sombat.

Egat has not decided whether it will use the Chinese technology, he said.

Egat is tasked with building two nuclear power generators, with a total capacity of 2,000 megawatts, under the current national power development plan.

The power plants should come online between 2020 and 2021.

As required by the plan, Egat is now studying available sites, nuclear technology, related legal issues and human resource development.

But the final decision on whether the country will actually build its first nuclear power stations will not take place until next year.

Egat last year sent more than 80 engineers and technicians to attend a training course on nuclear power in China.

Pornchai Rujiprapa, permanent-secretary to the Energy Ministry, said the MoU with China covers legal issues and updated investment cost.

"China has set aside a huge investment in nuclear power in a bid to decrease greenhouse gas emissions," said Mr Sombat.

CGNPC will provide Egat with research and development and on-the-job training at its nuclear power plant and technical assistance.

Chairman Qian Zhimin said CGNPC owns 53 nuclear power projects which accounted for nearly 20% of global capacity.

"We are about to install another eight nuclear reactors units in Guangdong, where we will use our latest technology which will help us cut greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired power plants," he said.

CGNPC, which has 20 subsidiaries with assets worth 60.2 billion yuan (300 billion baht), officially opened its Thailand branch yesterday.

By Bangkok Post

November 16, 2008

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