January 23, 2009
Thailand urged to join pact
Published: 23/01/2009 at 12:00 AM
Newspaper section: Business
Thailand is being encouraged to join the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) as one of the leading players in renewables in Southeast Asia, said Hanns Schumacher, the German Ambassador to Thailand.
Dr Schumacher said that Irena was being set up in collaboration with other European countries as a driving force in the international community to develop greener renewable energies to replace mainstream sources.
He said that more than 60 countries were now working together toward the organisation's founding, with tasks, objectives and structure already agreed upon.
"We hope that Thailand will sign the statute. It has been an active member in the preparation of Irena," said Dr Schumacher.
Energy Minister Wannarat Channukul said the country was committed to supporting the development of renewable energy such as solar energy and other forms.
A feasibility study on building a nuclear power plant is also ongoing.
Thailand is now working on the 15- year renewable energy development plan, which requires a budget for the Department of Alternative Energy Development and Efficiency of 15.6 billion baht through 2022.
Through price incentives, Thailand aims to increase the country's renewable energy share to 8% of all energy used in 2011 and reduce 42,000 tonnes of greenhouse gases emissions.
Dr Schumacher said that apart from Thailand, regional neighbours such as Indonesia, Vietnam, South Korea, and India will be signing on as members at Irena's inaugural conference to take place in Bonn, Germany next week.
"China has not signed," he added, "but we are currently in the process of convincing them."
Once established, Irena will provide advice on financial, technical and structural issues related to switching to renewable energy to member states as it hopes to see this as a scientific pool to which only committed members will have access.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/10252/thailand-urged-to-join-pact
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