Garbage power boost on the cards

PHUKET TOWN: The Phuket Town Municipality and the Department of Alternative Energy are investigating ways to boost the amount of electricity produced by the Saphan Hin garbage incinerator. Energy Minister Dr Prommin Lertsuridej has asked for a report within two months on the possibilities. Dr Prommin and his team toured the incinerator when the Cabinet visited Phuket this week. The plant, which burns some 250 tons of garbage a day, has produced 43.58 million units of electricity since it began operating in 1999. About two-thirds of the power has been used on public projects and the rest, calculated to be worth 30 million baht, has been used to support power delivered by the Phuket Provincial Electricity Authority.