Egat plans third substation for Phuket

PHUKET: The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) is preparing to invest 300 million baht to build a high-voltage substation in Koh Kaew.

Dr Anuchart Palakawongse Na Ayudhaya, director of Egat’s Natural and Environment Evaluation Department, met with Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop on Tuesday to discuss the project.

Egat already has Cabinet approval for the project, which is currently under Initial Environmental Evaluation (IEE) review by the Phuket Office of the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, Dr Anuchart said.

The review panel is scheduled to meet to discuss the IEE findings on January 19.

If approved, the project would be located on 75-rai of land in Koh Kaew Village 4 on land already administered by Egat, which maintains high tension wires in the same area.

It would be the third substation in Phuket. The two others are on Thepkrasattri Rd in Rasada and on Chao Fah West Rd in Chalong.

Construction of a third plant should be enough to increase supply from the present island-wide capacity of 300 megawatts to 500 megawatts, which should be enough to meet expected increases in demand over the next 15 years, he said.

Gov Wichai Phraisa-ngop said the project has been in the planning stages for 10 years.

“Now it is the time for Phuket to make it happen, because the island will benefit from this project and it will help us keep pace with continued growth in the property market,” he said.

— Kitima Pornmongkhonwat