EGAT’s Power Development Plan (PDP) 2004, which was approved by the Thailand Cabinet, is based on an unrealistically high peak demand forecast. In addition, less expensive, environmentally or socially superior alternatives are not taken into consideration. The PDP is thus likely to lead to both over investment and misallocated investment. The failings of the PDP indicate that the narrow criteria that EGAT employs for planning are inadequate for the critical task of determining Thailand’s power sector investment priorities in a way that is best for the country. The PDP should be revised and the process by which the PDP is determined should be amended to include broader criteria and meaningful public participation.
Read an alternative PDP, together with a discussion of the specific failings of the PDP 2004.
