AMSTERDAM: The world's natural gas industry believes that demand for gas for power generation will increase in future, driven by growing public and government concerns about nuclear energy.
The world will have more natural gas for energy security at a time when the emission reduction is a priority, said Malcolm Brinded, Shell's executive director.
"Natural gas is clean, abundant reserves. Its acceptance by the public and the affordability of all the factors that drive the demand for natural gas to move across the middle of the century," said Brinded.
It is expected that global demand for energy will grow significantly in 2050, while the low-emission requirements and competitive cost would be more stringent as well.
"Therefore, the gas will replace coal in the world of power generation in the next 20 years and beyond," said the 25 th Gastech conference yesterday.
In terms of investment, gas power plants are the cheapest compared to other fossil fuel sources. The cost of a coal plant is three times higher than that of a gas plant, nuclear power five times and wind 10 to 15 times, he said.
In light of the growing demand for gas, PTT is working to get more bookings for domestic demand. It intends to invite bids from suppliers of liquefied natural gas worldwide to achieve a supply of 3.5 million tonnes of LNG in 2014.
Prasert Bunsumpun, president and CEO of PTT, said that from 2014 onwards, PTT would have to conduct auctions of 5 million tonnes of LNG per year.
The LNG terminal first, developed by PTT, is being tested. Its first phase has a capacity of 5 million tonnes, with another 5 million in the second phase, which is available for 2018.
The LNG supply is crucial now for Thailand as the future of alternative fuels is uncertain, said Mr. Prasert.
energy policy is expected to decide the fate of the nuclear plant in Thailand in the second quarter and to review the development plan of energy.
It is impossible to predict when the final policy decision on nuclear power will be done. The Democratic administration is unlikely to do anything before the elections scheduled for early July.
Norkhun Sittipong, the permanent secretary of the Department of Energy, said the sudden revision of the 20 years up to 2030 PPD reconsider the demand over the next 20 years if coal and / or nuclear power plants, to be part of that future.
The current plan, last revised in April 2010 called for five nuclear power plants with a total capacity of 5,000 megawatts and a new coal-fired power capacity of 10,400 MW in 2030.
Mr. Norkhun only nuclear added there were some good points in comparison with other types of fuel.
"We will review the PDP on the basis of available fuels in the future. Although people fear damage [as] in Japan, we can not deny the electricity is needed," he said.
(Source: http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/228111/gas-demand-for-power-plants-to-rise)
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