Thailand to start relocating electricity generators to help Japan

BANGKOK, April 27 (TNA) - The relocation of electricity generators from Nong Chok power plant in Bangkok to Japan will start Wednesday night to help relieve electricity shortage resulting from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Wiwat Thairoongroj, director of power generation at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand's (EGAT) South Bangkok Power Plant, said the first generator at the plant had been removed and would be transported from there Wednesday night. The second generator will leave on May 5. Both, which are 122-megawatt gas turbine generators, will be delivered from the Laem Chabang port in Thailand’s Chon Buri province on May 15 and should reach Japan in late May. It is approximated that the generators will start to supply power to Japanese people in August.

Wiwat said that the Nong Chok generators would be lent to Japan free of charge for 3-5 years to relieve power shortages that resulted from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and will supply power to as many as 240,000 families in heavily damaged areas.

The lending was sought by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), who, alongside Mitsubishi Corporation, is handling the removal, shipment, re-installation, operation and maintenance of both generators.

The Nong Chok power plant has not been supplying power to the national grid of Thailand and has only been on standby for use during emergencies.

The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is ready to supply three generators but Japan requested just two of them. (TNA)