Bangkok--31 May--Azaim Burson-Marsteller
Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (Ratchaburi Holding) announced the “99,784 Teak Cultivation in Honor of His Majesty the King” campaign. Mr. Suwat Liptapanlop, former Deputy Prime Minister and Advisor to the Chairman of the Organizing Board for the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of HM’s Coronation and His Birthday Anniversary and Energy Minister Dr. Wannarat Channukul were co- chairman of the ceremony at the Ratchburi Power Plant in Ratchburi province recently. This is one of the activities run by the Energy Ministry to honor His Majesty under the theme of “Stop Global Warming for Our Beloved King in Celebration of 60th Anniversary of HM’s Coronation Anniversary and his Birthday Anniversary”. The initiative is expected to reduce CO2 by 32,870 tonnes in total when the teak trees are completely grown.
Mr. Noppol Milinthanggoon, President, Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding PLC said, “The campaign was initiated to reinforce our CSR commitment to be the leading independent power company with an environmental focus. Undertaking this project is another way to alleviate the global warming, which is the major cause of increasingly severe climate changes that are impacting the entire world. Additionally, 2010 marks the 10th anniversary of our company’s inception and is the auspicious year for Thai people as it involves the Celebration of the 60th Anniversary of HM’s Coronation and His 7th Cycle Birthday Anniversary. We have organized the program to encourage all parties to participate in growing teak trees to make more green space where teak forests will help absorb CO2. The project is supported by the Energy Ministry and the Royal Forest Department, which provided us with over 500 golden teak trees for gifts for participating attendees and for planting at the opening ceremony.
“99,784 Teak Cultivation in Honor of His Majesty the King” is a 2-year campaign that runs from April 2010 until December 2011. Its goal is to increase the number of teak trees in Thailand. The target number of 99,784 teak trees will be grown in six plantation sites nationwide. A teak plantation of 9,784 trees will be established at the Ratchaburi Power Plant and the rest will be cultivated in Mae Sin, Mae San and Left Side Mae Soong National Forests, Sukhothai as well as community forests under the Love the Forest and the Community program in Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Nakhon Ratchasima. The campaign is projected to expand the teak plantation area, increase the number of teak trees in Thailand by 99,784 trees and reduce Thailand’s CO2 footprint by 32,870 tonnes when the teak trees are fully grown. Teak can capture CO2 from the atmosphere (carbon sink), offering better CO2 reduction than other plants. It will also increase O2 production by 24,000 tonnes and give enhanced moisture and fertility to the forests.
With reference to the 99,784 teak trees that will be planted, 99,784 is an auspicious figure that reflects the many years that His Majesty the King’s graciousness has been shown to all Thai people. The groups that have joined together to realize the planting of these 99,784 teak trees include the Energy Ministry, Department of Military Engineering in Ratchburi, institutions in Ratchburi province, the Royal Forest Department, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, youth, communities, community forests, and the company’s employees. The ultimate goal of all of these parties is to make merit for His Majesty by participating in growing teak trees.
Facts About Teak
Teak or Sak in Thai, has the scientific name Tectona grandis and the tree grew originally in the southern part of India, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia and the East Indies Islands. It is a large tree with leaves that fall in the hot season or summer. It grows in forests in the north, some parts of the central region and the east and some areas of the northeast.
Teak can be classified in 5 types based on the color of its wood, the hardness and toughness and its decorative uses:
1. Golden Teak — the color of the wood is golden brown
2. Sak Hin — the wood is light brown
3. Sak Yauk — the wood is light brown
4. Sak Khai — the wood is yellowish brown
5. Sak Khi Kwai — the wood is greenish and blackish brown — a smudgy color
Before 1960, 50% of the land of the country was forest. Since then the use of forest resources and lack of sustainable management has rapidly reduced Thailand’s forest area. However, with the demand for wood for local consumption and the realization of the value of the forest, programs of both the government and private sector involving reforestation have focused on the expanding forests and planting trees including teak, eucalyptus, pine and mangrove plus other fast growing trees. The forest plays an important role in the carbon cycle. CO2 stored in forest areas will be released when these areas are converted for agricultural use. The capacity to absorb CO2 depends on the type of land use, density of the forest and the type of trees.
The program “99,784 Teak Cultivation In Honor of HM the King” is aimed to increase the amount of teak trees in the country as the teak has great potential to store carbon dioxide (carbon sink) and so reduce the Green House Effect better than other types of trees. Academics have estimated that one teak tree can absorb 0.329 tons of carbon dioxide in 15 years. The objective of the program is to grow 99,784 teak trees as a way to demonstrate the sincere loyalty and gratitude that the Thai people have toward HM The King.
It was calculated that it would take 15 years for the trees to fully grow, which would yield 0.28 cubic meters of wood weighing 182 kilograms. According to the research, the wood from one tree would absorb 1.81 tons of CO2 and yield 1.32 tons of oxygen (O2) which would effectively eliminate 18,160 tons of carbon dioxide. When the 99,784 teak trees fully grow, they would weigh 18,160.688 tons and absorb 32,870 tons of carbon dioxide and yield 24,000 tons of oxygen.
Company Profile
Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding Public Company Limited (RATCH), a leading investment company in the power generation business, renewable energy business and relevant business, was founded in March 2000 and this year 2010 is the company 10th anniversary. The Company has a total installed capacity of 4,347 MW. The Company’s share of capacity resulting from its equity in 4 domestic projects are as follows: 3,645-MW Ratchaburi’s Power Plant (99.99%), 350-MW Tri Energy’s Power Plant (50%) and 350-MW Ratchaburi Power’s Power Plant (25%) located in Ratchburi province. There is also 1.75-MW Pradu Thao Power Plant. In addition, the Company in cooperation with the Royal Forest Department organized the “Love the Forest and the Community” program which is the 5-year initiative to stimulate community awareness about preservation of the forest resources. For further information, please visit www.ratch.co.th
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