William Boot, The Irrawaddy
October 9, 2006

Bangkok: Thailand will not rely on Burma for gas supplies or electricity from controversial river hydro dam schemes for the country’s energy needs in the next decade, new Energy Minister Piyasvati Amranand said in Bangkok Friday. Under post-Thaksin revised planning for Thailand’s power generating expansion beyond 2011, gas will be bought elsewhere, Piyasvati told a conference on the country’s economic development. … The energy minister said he wanted to promote more fair competition and private investment in Thailand’s power industry than ever before. … Although Thailand needs to invest in more non-fossil renewable energy sources, it will turn away from excessive reliance on hydro-electric schemes in Burma. Thailand is now committed to the US$1 billion Hatgyi hydro dam project on the Salween River in Karen State with the Chinese Sinohydro Corp and Burmese state authorities. Future plans also call for more investment in hydro-electric projects in Laos. Read the full story.