Bangkok--8 Jun--PTT
In an effort to secure greater supply of natural gas, PTT Plc today inaugurated the Sai Noi — South Bangkok Power Plant gas transmission pipeline, which strengthens the security of the national gas transmission system, responds to the increasing domestic need for energy, and alleviates the impacts of the volatile world oil price.
At 11 a.m. today (8 June 2007), at the SB2 Block Valve Station on Rajchaphruek Road, Khet Taling Chan, Bangkok, Dr. Piyasvasti Amranand, Minister of Energy, presided over the inauguration of the Sai Noi — South Bangkok Power Plant gas transmission pipeline, operated by PTT. On hand to welcome the minister was Mr. Prasert Bunsumpun, PTT President, together with PTT executives.
The minister said this latest addition to the western gas transmission system had actually begun delivering gas from Myanmar to the South Bangkok Power Plant, run by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), replacing fuel oil, since last December. Today, the minister said, PTT is delivering 230 million cubic feet a day (MMSCFD) to South Bangkok, equivalent to 6 million liters a day of fuel oil.
Enhancing PTT’s potential and capability to secure natural gas from the west, the grid had previously relied on gas obtained from the eastern part of the country. Besides cutting down on the use of fuel oil by the South Bangkok Power Plant and lowering power generation costs, this latest segment represents a significant rise in gas delivery from Myanmar for power generation and industrial uses in several areas around Bangkok. Under construction are gas distribution lines linking industrial works on Ekachai — Rama II Road in Bangkok; Suksawat Road in Samut Prakan; Sethakit Road in Samut Sakhon; Rama II Road down to Samut Sakhon; and the Samut Sakhon Industrial Estate. Natural gas previously fueled the Ratchaburi, Wang Noi, and Tri-Energy power plants together with several industries.
As regards the transport sector, the ministry had assigned PTT to constantly promote the substitution of refined fuels with natural gas, including acceleration of NGV service station construction to fill all regions around transmission pipelines. For instance, for this latest segment in Nonthaburi province and its vicinity, PTT had been instructed to speed up NGV service station construction to ease the growing needs of the public and transport operators. One such station has been completed on Suksawat Road, two are under construction on Rajchaphruek Road, and another two on Kalapaphruek Road. In total, PTT planned to put up 18 additional NGV service stations by the end of 2008 to make the gas-based fuel readily accessible, raising the consumption of natural gas in the transport and industrial sectors by 60 MMSCFD.
According to the minister, PTT had been asked to speed up design of the expanded grid to deliver 240 MMSCFD to the combined-cycle units 1 and 2 of the North Bangkok Power Plant by the end of 2009. When completed, it would lower fuel oil consumption by both North and South Bangkok by about 4.4 billion liters a year. Besides reducing fuel oil imports, natural gas would prove a tremendous boon to the environment.
The PTT President said that besides strengthening the national gas grid on both sides, with future network expansion to form a ring around Bangkok Metropolis and its perimeter, this latest segment would make possible natural gas swaps between regions if necessary. He added that Sai Noi — South Bangkok was the first gas pipeline to be laid through areas of high population density and transport congestion. Thanks to PTT’s regard for the quality of life, society, communities, and environment, the company has prudently carried out construction work using a specialized method to minimize impacts on communities, which provided excellent cooperation. As a result, the project was successfully executed, thereby enabling the company to secure greater volumes of natural gas to satisfy the domestic demand and strengthen Thai energy security, apart from alleviating air pollution caused by fuel oil combustion in the power and industrial sectors.
The starting point of the 67-km project is Block Valve Station 6, Amphoe Sai Noi, Nonthaburi. In the province of Nonthaburi, PTT aligned the pipeline route with the exclusive zone of EGAT’s high-power transmission lines. As the route approaches Bangkok from Khet Taling Chan, it aligned the route with the exclusive zone of the State Railway of Thailand (southern route) before heading into Chaiyaphruek, Kalapaphruek, and Kanchanaphisek Roads, the exclusive zone of high-power transmission lines, the Phraya Rajchamontri Canal, paralleling the elevated Southern Ringroad, Suksawat Road, then going under the Chao Phraya River, and finally into the South Bangkok Power Plant.
For additional information, call the Public Relations Section
Exploration & Production and Gas Business Group
PTT Plc
Tel. 0-2537-3217
Fax 0-2537-3211