Bangkok--Nov 1--PTT
Today (October 27, 2000) at 18.30 hrs. at Vibhavadi Ballroom, Central Grand Plaza Hotel, His Excellency Suwat Liptapanlop, Minister of and Industry, and His Excellency Savit Bhodivihok, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, presided over the signing ceremony of 2 gas sales agreements between the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT), the seller, and the buyers i.e. the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Company Limited (RGCO). Signatories included Mr. Viset Choopiban, PTT Governor, Mr. Vitaya Kotcharug, EGAT Governor and Mr. Boonchoo Direksathapon, Managing Director of RGCO. According to the first gas sales agreement between PTT and EGAT i.e. the Ratchaburi Master Gas Sales Agreement (RMGSA), EGAT is to guarantee the Minimum Take Liability of natural gas for the Ratchaburi Power Plant. In case the Ratchaburi Power Plant cannot take the specified volume of natural gas, EGAT can optionally use it at Wang Noi Power Plant, Tri Energy Power Plant and South Bangkok Power Plant. In the second contract i.e. the 25-year gas sales agreement between PTT and RGCO, pricing structure and quality of natural gas have been specified. Gas price is based on the same pricing structure as in the Gulf of Thailand. The second agreement is based on the same principles as that of other independent power producers (IPPs), with corresponding pricing condition with the Cabinet resolution on November 29, 1994. That is principal conditions of the Yadana Gas Sales Agreement have been introduced, aiming at national benefits. Prior to this signing, PTT and EGAT have abided by the agreements mutually made in the Memorandum of Understanding in 1998. The Ratchaburi Power Plant is now receiving 200 million cubic feet per day( MMSCFD) of natural gas from the Union of Myanmar and, once completed, it will be Thailand’s largest power plant with total production capacity of 3,645 megawatts (MW). The project consists of 2 units of thermal generating with 735 MW in capacity each and 3 units of combined cycle gas turbine with 725 MW in capacity each. In addition, another 140 MMSCFD of Myanmar gas has been fueled the 170-MW power plant of Tri Energy Company Limited, an IPP in Ratchaburi, and electricity has been transferred into the system since May 2000. PTT has also constructed the Ratchaburi-Wang Noi Gas Pipeline which will be completed shortly to enable to transfer gas from Myanmar to Wang Noi Power Plant as a means to reduce Take-Or Pay charge. More importantly, it has connected the gas transmission network on the east with the west, thereby enhancing the country’s energy security. End.
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