Bangkok--8 Oct--Hill & Knowlton EGGO Group signs MOU for cooperation with PTT Public Company Limited and Sepco-Asia Group Plc in Phuket sewage power plant feasibility study EGCO Group recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for mutual cooperation with PTT Public Company Limited and Sepco-Asia Group Plc in a feasibility study for the construct of a Phuket sewage power plant. This initiative is in line with the sentiments expressed by His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen with regard to energy conservation and use. Cooperation between the three companies is also in response to the alternative energy policy of the Ministry of Energy. The project is planned to start in Phuket province before being expanded to other provinces. Dr Piyasawat Ammaranan, Energy Minister presided over the MOU signing ceremony. The study will also look at the possibility of transforming garbage in the Phuket municipality into energy and improving the city landscape. The investment proportion of EGCO Group, PTT and Sepco is 50:35:15 respectively. Mr Visit Akaravinak, President of EGCO Group explained, “EGCO Group, PTT and Sepco undertake the project together with awareness that the problem with the sheer volume of rubbish need an effective management. The idea of turning tonnes of garbage into environmentally friendly energy was later developed to be the memorandum of cooperation in studying the possibility in building a sewage power plant. EGCO Group, the first independent power producer in Thailand, is ready to bring it expertise in electricity generation to the project. The pilot project in Phuket can be a good example of a sewage power plant that is environmental friendly which is in accordance to EGCO Group policy in running business with commitment to the environment, local communities and society for the past 15 years.” “The cooperation today will result in benefits for the government, the private sector, and the Thai people. It is a sign that Thailand is embracing global energy initiatives, environmental management and doing something about global warming,” added Visit. Mr Prasert Bunsumpun, President of PTT Public Company Limited said, “As one of the national leaders in the energy business expanding its business into electricity production PTT is pleased to have the opportunity to work with EGCO Group, a Thai independent power producer, and Sepco, who has expertise in garbage-management technology and turning waste products into energy. The project not only helps reducing the volume of rubbish but also adds value to waste. It also supports the country’s efforts in resolving environmental problems and reducing greenhouse gas.” Mr Metta Visessombat, MD, SEPCO Asia Group Plc said, “The selected technology involves acomposite waste management solution and green energy. The waste is first treated thermally in a stream chamber then recyclable material is recovered and the remaining substance is used to generate electricity via a steam turbine. There are no viable competing technologies that can simple treat, reduce, sanitise and recycle waste on such a cost efficient basis without causing heavy metal emissions to air ground or water. This process uses steam to treat unsorted municipal, light industrial, commercial and agricultural wastes that can also include sewage, sludge. Screening also produces a cellulose-based fibre from which recycled ferrous and non-ferrous metals, plastics, glass and batteries can be mechanically extracted.” EGCO Group, PTT Public Company Limited and Sepco-Asia Group Plc initiated this project following the speech of His Majesty the King directed to Thai people to be sustainable and seek alternative energy especially for the purpose of local development and natural resource preservation. The message was again emphasised in a recent speech by Her Majesty the Queen. The mutual cooperation between the three companies is seen as a positive response to the Ministry of Energy's initiatives. The national policy aims to generate capacity of 100 MW from alternative fuel, an increase from 0.5 per cent in 2003 to 8 per cent in 2011. The sewage power plant also accords with the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol because it has lower greenhouse gas emission than fossil fuel power plants. For more information, please contact: Corporate Communications Division Rachit Khemsaksith/ Wiriyaporn Tantinipankul Electricity Generating Public Company Limited Hill & Knowlton Thailand Tel: 0 2998 5135-7 Tel: 0 2627 3501 ext. 204, 208 Fax: 0 2955 0958 Fax: 0 2627 3510