On January 24, 2024, Dr. Jiraporn Sirikum, Deputy Governor – Power Business and Acting Governor of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), and Mr. Sukit Junthong, Managing Director of the Forest Industry Organization (FIO), signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to study potential areas for producing biomass fuel for EGAT power plants.

Dr. Sirikum said that for the production and procurement of biomass fuel combined with coal for Mae Moh Power Plant in Lampang Province, it is necessary to have a location for planting fast growing crops. This has informed EGAT’s decision to join with FIO in studying and evaluating potential areas for growing biomass crops, which will allow the organization to receive an international standard certification for biomass fuel production for EGAT power plants.

The study results can be used to develop knowledge and technology as well, which will be an important step in reducing carbon dioxide emissions and increasing the efficiency of greenhouse gas absorption in the forest sector.

This move is seen to positively impact the environment, as well as promoting community participation by developing jobs, quality of life, as well as creating revenue from producing biomass fuel for EGAT power plants.

Biomass fuel is one of the alternative energy sources that EGAT is studying to move toward energy transition under the “Triple S” strategy, namely Sources Transformation: increasing the share of renewable energy generation, Sink Co-creation: increasing the ability of carbon capture in the forest sector, and Support Measures Mechanism: promoting greenhouse gas reduction in the public sector in order to solve climate change and build a low carbon society.