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Salween Watch Update

February 2003, Volume 13

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Feasibility study into plan for dam on Burmese border
No repeat of past mistakes, says Egat

Bangkok Post: January 23, 2003

A study will be made into the feasibility of building a major dam on the Salween river, a natural Thai-Burmese borderline.
The House energy committee has invited Sithiporn Ratananopas, governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, to shed light on the possibility of building a dam on the Salween in Mae Sariang district, Mae Hong Son. Panel chairman Suravit Konsomboon said a feasibility study would begin soon.

The dam would cost an estimated 200 billion baht and would have a generating capacity of 4,500-5,700 megawatts of electricity. It would be able to supply power at about 90 satang per unit, as opposed to the current investment cost of 1.90 baht per unit. That would translate into a saving of up to 30 billion baht per year, Mr Suravit said. The dam, when up and running, would help secure Thailand's position as the regional power house.

The project would be of great benefit to the country but an environmental impact assessment study had yet to be made, he said.
Mr Suravit said Egat should manage the dam to keep the retail cost of electricity low. The project planners would learn from the mistakes in the conception of the Pak Moon dam and Bo Nok and Hin Krut power plant projects, which ran into fierce public opposition. There had been no negotiation with Burma yet on the proposed Salween dam.

That would depend on the findings of the completed feasibility study, Mr Suravit said.

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