Thailand seeks Japan's help to build first nuclear power plants
25-AUG-2008 Intellasia | Bloomberg
Aug 25, 2008 - 7:00:00 AM
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Thailand has asked Japan to help build its first nuclear power plants as Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy seeks to reduce reliance on gas, oil and coal.
Energy minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop today asked Japan's minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshihiro Nikai for reactor-operation expertise and advice on nuclear legislation and developing workers for the industry, Poonpirom said in an interview in Tokyo after their meeting.
Thailand plans to complete a 2,000 megawatt-nuclear power station in 2020 and a further plant with the same capacity the following year, Poonpirom said. The country wants to cut dependence on natural gas, which accounts for more than 70% of its power generation. Japan operates 55 reactors.
"The next three-year period will be our preparation phase, during which we will conduct law-amendment, build technology, and develop human resources,'' Poonpirom said through an interpreter. "We would like a broad nuclear cooperation with Japan.''
Japan wants markets for its nuclear reactors and plant parts. Hitachi Ltd, the nation's third-biggest builder of nuclear plants, and partner general Electric Co have started informal talks with Thailand, Vietnam and other Southeast Asian nations to sell newly developed mid-sized reactors.
Hitachi's compact reactor is capable of producing between 600 megawatts and 900 megawatts of electricity.
Nuclear treaty
Thailand may need to double electricity generating capacity by 2021 as economic growth boosts demand for power, according to the Energy Ministry. The two planned nuclear plants may generate 10% of the country's electricity, Poonpirom said in March. They may require an investment of about US$6 billion, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand said in June 2007.
Japan and Thailand must agree on a treaty that will ensure the transfer of nuclear power technology is for peaceful, civilian purposes. The ministers didn't discuss the treaty during their meeting, Poonpirom said.
"It also is very important that we can gain public acceptance of nuclear power generation,'' she said.
During their talks, which lasted 30 minutes, the ministers discussed alternative energy sources including biofuels, Poonpirom said. She visited Toyota Motor Corp.'s hybrid-car factory and Kansai Electric Power Co., Japan's second-largest utility, during her stay in the country.
Japan's nuclear power plants accounted for 25% of electricity production in the year ended March. The country plans to boost its reliance on atomic energy to more than 40% of generation by 2030.
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