Energy projects face opposition, academics warn

More than 800 people gather in front of Chiang Rai Provincial Hall to back the building of an ecofriendly power plant. This demonstration came after Chiang Rai Governor Sumeth Saengnumnuan cancelled the construction of the plant after pressure from anothe

Under a longterm requirement, proposed sites for two nuclear power plants need to be decided this year, while more than 220 biomass power plants are also due to be built this year. About 60 biomass built last year faced protests and criticism by local communities.

Harnnarong Yaowalert, a senior official with the Wildlife Fund Foundation, said a Cabinet decision during the Surayud Chulanont government stipulated that nuclear power plants would be built in Thailand and residents in many provinces earmarked as possible sites had already protested against them.

Surveys are scheduled to be conducted in another two provinces - Nakhon Sawan and Chanthaburi - where local opposition is not beyond expectations.

Conventional hydropower projects even encounter local opposition - such as the Nam Kum Dam project in Ubon

From: The Nation