PHUKET: Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand officials on Phuket have confirmed that a new high-voltage transmission line is to be built to Phuket and 13 other southern provinces at a cost of 60 billion baht.
An existing 500-kilovolt transmission line will be extended from Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, to Surat Thani and Phuket.
Authorities have been forced to throw the switch on the project because of the massive blackout that darkened all 14 southern provinces on May 21.
Phuket and virtually all the south was in darkness for as long as five hours. Samui has also suffered individual lengthy blackouts.
No details have been made public yet as to when the new extension will be in place, although 2019 has been mentioned.
Generators in the South cannot cope with demand so additional supplies are sent from the central region.
Thailand has a history of large-scale electricity failures.
An existing 500-kilovolt transmission line will be extended from Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan, to Surat Thani and Phuket.
Authorities have been forced to throw the switch on the project because of the massive blackout that darkened all 14 southern provinces on May 21.
Phuket and virtually all the south was in darkness for as long as five hours. Samui has also suffered individual lengthy blackouts.
No details have been made public yet as to when the new extension will be in place, although 2019 has been mentioned.
Generators in the South cannot cope with demand so additional supplies are sent from the central region.
Thailand has a history of large-scale electricity failures.
'Phuket Hopefully Gains Extra Power in 2019 to End Fears of More Massive Blackouts,' would be a less misleading headline. 2019 is >5 years away so there could be many 'Massive Blackouts' between now and then!
Posted by thag on July 10, 2013 13:40