Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has defended the need to push new energy projects despite the ongoing rally against a coal-fired power plan in Krabi province.
He called the energy issue ''a certain necessity that the country has to consider'' in a weekly programme, Bringing Happiness to Thai People, aired on Friday night. He did not mention the Krabi project...
Gen Prayut said the energy and other projects would increase the country's competitiveness and warned that failures to strengthen Thailand would be a setback and leave the country behind other Asean countries...
''Without preparation, we will be left behind and we could lose many opportunities,'' he said.
Opponents of the coal power plant in Nuea Khlong district in Krabi led by the Save Andaman from Coal Network have staged a rally in Bangkok since July 10. They are concerned about pollution and the ecological...
"If you are concerned about negative consequences, please look at other areas that have similar projects or similar problems and learn from them,'' the prime minister said.
The government agreed on Thursday to set up a joint panel to thrash out the differences after the protesters demanded the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand stop the bidding process and the studies...
The Egat has deferred the bidding from July 22 to Aug 5 but said the postponement had nothing to do with the rally. It claimed high-quality coal to be used at the plant was deemed clean fuel.
Gen Prayut explained earlier at Government House about the future of the project, saying it had not been scrapped. The government and the network will try to find a common solution that benefits the country...