Tha Tum power station

From Global Energy Monitor
Part of the
Global Coal Plant Tracker,
a Global Energy Monitor project.
Download full dataset
Report an error
Related coal trackers:

Tha Tum power station is an operating power station of at least 328-megawatts (MW) in Tha Tum, Si Maha Phot, Prachinburi, Thailand. It is also known as PP7 (Unit 1), PP8 (Unit 2).

Location

Table 1: Project-level location details

Plant name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Tha Tum power station Tha Tum, Si Maha Phot, Prachinburi, Thailand 13.932457, 101.587568 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the power station.

Loading map...


Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):

  • Unit 1, Unit 2: 13.932457, 101.587568

Project Details

Table 2: Unit-level details

Unit name Status Fuel(s) Capacity (MW) Technology Start year Retired year
Unit 1 operating coal - subbituminous, bioenergy - wood & other biomass (solids) 164 subcritical 1999
Unit 2 operating coal - subbituminous, bioenergy - wood & other biomass (solids) 164 subcritical 1999

Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details

Unit name Owner
Unit 1 National Power Supply PCL (NPS) [100.0%]
Unit 2 National Power Supply PCL (NPS) [100.0%]

Background

The Tha Tum power station is a 2 x 164 MW coal-fired power station built in 1999 in Si Maha Phot, Prachinburi Province, Thailand.[1][2][3]

The power station appears to provide power to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), Double A, and industrial customers at the 304 Industrial Park, Prachinburi.

Power Purchase Agreements

The National Power Supply Public Company Limited's annual report listed the following:[4]

"There are 2 power plants under the Company’s management, which are PP7 and PP8, each with an installed capacity of 164.00 MW, for a total of 328 MW, and a 9.9 MW power plant. These power plants are located at 304 Industrial Park, Prachinburi, and use coal and biomass as fuel in the production process. The Company’s main customers are EGAT, AA, and the industrial customers at 304 Industrial Park, Prachinburi. The Company executed two power purchase agreements with EGAT, each of which has a contracted capacity of 90.00 MW for 25 years ending in 2024. In addition, the Company has three 5-year Power Purchase Agreements with AA, beginning on the date of obtaining the license. The agreements will be extended for an additional 1 years or 5 years if neither party expresses an intention not to renew them at least 30 days in advance of their expiration in writing. The remaining power will be distributed directly to the industrial customer at 304 industrial park. Regarding steam, the Company uses some portion internally and sells the remainder to AA and industrial customers in the industrial park 304 Prachinburi. The steam purchase and sale agreement with AA is a 25-year contract, which began on February 10, 1997 and will expire on February 9, 2023."

Coal source

The National Power Supply Public Company Limited's annual report listed the following:[4]

"Two power plants under the Company’s management, PP7 and PP8, use coal as the major fuel in the production process. The Company uses sub-bituminous coal, which is high-quality and contains low sulfite. The Company procures coal from both domestic and international suppliers at any desired quantity at market price and usually orders 25,000 - 160,000 tons, using it for vessels and trucks, with partners for inland transport. However, during a period of escalating coal prices, the Company may consider engaging in long-term contracts with suppliers if the price is appropriate or buy spot from domestic suppliers occasionally. Thus, the Company sets strict criteria for supplier selection and has an effective purchasing system. All suppliers are required to test and analyze coal quality before delivery to the Company in order to assure the same specifications and standards specified in the agreements, such as ISO and the American Society for the Testing of Materials (“ASTM”). If delivered coal does is not of the quality specified in the purchase order, the Company has the right to request that the supplier deliver a new lot of the specified quality or pay a penalty equal to the price difference between the delivered coal and the specified coal. In addition, PT Utami Jaya Mulia, a subsidiary, is in the process of applying for the relevant permits in order to serve the coal demands of the Company as well as new power plant projects in the future."

Opposition and incidents

Greenpeace and others have called on to Double A to cancel the coal-fired power plant project to protect public health and the environment.[5]

The power plant reportedly uses coal fuel mixed with biomass fuels such as rice husk and tree bark. In 2013, an analysis by the Ecological Restoration Foundation (Thailand), Arnica Association (Czech Republic), and the Heavy Metal Working Group studied the hair of people who live near the coal plant and other industries, as well as fish in the area, and found mercury contamination above safe standards, at a maximum of 12 times above EPA-suggested levels.[6][7]

In March 2023, a tube containing highly radioactive Caesium-137 went missing from the power station. An official search failed to locate the missing dangerous material, and radiation tests indicated that it was no longer on the premises.[8]

In September 2023, a transformer explosion reportedly caused a major fire at the power station. A full power outage occurred in the adjacent industrial estate as a result.[9]

Capacity uncertainty

The study referenced a 400 MW plant, and related reporting noted a 2011 Environmental Impact Assessment for a 74 MW unit. However, it is unclear if and how this is related to the Tha Tum power station and the power station's ultimate capacity.[10]

Articles and Resources

References

  1. "Tha Tum Coal Power Plant," Industry About, last updated September 22, 2016
  2. "Our Power Plants," Double A Power, accessed December 2021
  3. "All Set at 304 Industrial Park to Ensure Stable Power Supply," Thailand Pages, March 20, 2013
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Annual Report," NPS, 2020
  5. "Mercury contaminated areas from coal-fired power plants and pulp mills in Prachinburi Province," Greenpeace Thailand, Facebook, January 12, 2016
  6. "พืนท้ ่ปนเป ี ื้อนสารปรอทของประเทศไทย แหล่งโรงไฟฟ้าถ่านหนและโรงผล ิ ิตเย่อกระดาษ ื ตาบลท ํ ่าตมู อาเภอศร ํ ีมหาโพธิจังหวัดปราจีนบุรี," โดย มูลนิธิบูรณะนิเวศ (ประเทศไทย) สมาคมอาร์นิกา (สาธารณรัฐเช็ก) และคณะทํางานด้านโลหะหนัก เครือข่ายระหว่างประเทศว่าดวยการก ้ ําจดสารพ ั ิษตกคางยาวนานในส ้ ิ่งแวดลอม, January 3, 2013
  7. "อ้างพบสารปรอทในปลา-คนรอบโรงไฟฟ้าถ่านหินปราจีนฯ," thairath, January 11, 2013
  8. "Thailand searches for missing radioactive cylinder," Alarabiya News, March 14, 2023
  9. "Explosion at Power Plant in Prachinburi Shuts Down Industrial Estate," Asean Now, September 22, 2023
  10. "จั๋รัฐเร่งแก้สารปรอทรอบนิคม304 ตรวจพบ?นปลา-เส้นผม-ยาวบ้าน คาดต้นเหตุโรงโฝฟ้า-รง.กระดาษ," TCIJ, January 15, 2014

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.