News

The Nation 19 February 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM, NATTAPAT PHROMKAEW

POLICE cracked down on the protest outside Government House yesterday over the move to build a coal-fired power plant in Krabi, arresting 16 protesters including three leaders of the demonstration.

Legal experts condemned the move, saying it was a severe violation of the protesters’ rights and demanded that they be released immediately.

The Nation 18 February 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM, NATTAPAT PHROMKAEW

Prime minister insists project is needed to secure power stability.

PROTESTERS HAVE vowed to continue their campaign with mass demonstrations in Bangkok, after the controversial Krabi coal-fired power plant project finally got the go-ahead yesterday after two years of resistance.

Bangkok Post 18 February 2017

Five protesters leading a rally against a coal-fired power plant in Krabi have been detained at an army base for violating the law against public gatherings.

Prasitchai Nunuan, Akradej Chakjinda and ML Rungkun Kitiyakara were whisked away by police from the rally site in front of Government House on Saturday morning and taken in a police van to the 11th Military Circle. Banjong Nasae and Thatchapong Kaedam later joined them at the military barracks.

Associated Press 17 February 2017

BANGKOK – Thailand's prime minister says a government committee has approved construction of an 800-megawatt coal power plant near pristine beaches on the Andaman Sea.

The plant is to be built on the coast in Krabi, a famous tourist destination with soaring cliffs and white sands.

Reuters 17 February 2017

Thailand will go ahead with a plan to build a coal-fired power plant in a southern tourist province, the prime minister said on Friday, despite opposition from residents and activists for more than two years.

The construction of the 800-megawatt power plant in Krabi, a province in the south known for its pristine beaches, is part of Thailand's Power Development Plan for 2015 to 2036.

The project was shelved two years ago due to mounting opposition, but the National Energy Policy Committee gave the project the go-ahead on Friday.

The Nation 17 February 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM

EGAT insists diverse energy portfolio is needed, overriding environmental issues.

THE FINAL decision on the Krabi coal-fired power plant will be made today amid an uproar about the value of the plant and Thailand’s future energy policy.

The Nation 16 February 2017 | PRATCH RUJIVANAROM, WATTANA KAMCHU

Govt warned not to rush decision after ‘fake’ official letter provokes new ire.

ACADEMICS HAVE warned that any decision regarding the Krabi coal-fired power plant at the meeting of the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) committee tomorrow could be against the law.

Reuters 14 February 2017

MANILA - The Philippine environment minister on Tuesday ordered the cancellation of mining contracts in watershed areas, taking another bold step in protecting resources from extraction after earlier shutting more than half of the country's mines.

The total mining contracts to be rescinded is 75.

Mongabay 14 February 2017 | Claire Salisbury

Reservoirs emit significant greenhouse gases planet-wide, study finds; researchers urge that new hydropower projects not be christened with green energy label.

For many years new hydropower dams were assumed to be zero greenhouse gas emitters. Now with 847 large (more than 100 MW) and 2,853 smaller (more than 1 MW) hydropower projects currently planned or under construction around the world, a new global study has shown that dam reservoirs are major greenhouse gas emitters.

Bangkok Post 12 February 2017 | Editorial

The military regime has failed to produce the coherent, forward-looking national energy policy it promised. But it has been consistent on one point -- the South needs more electricity, and it is going to get it from coal-fired power plants. It is time to drop this backward, ultimately harmful and massively unpopular plan and look ahead.