The Energy Policy and Planning Office (Ministry of Energy) of Thailand has revised upward its LNG import long-term target, due to delays in the construction of coal-fired power plants.
Thailand now expects its gas demand to reach 5.06 bcf/d (52 bcm/year) by 2036, up from a previous estimate of 4.34 bcf/d (45 bcm/year). Delays in the construction of coal-fired power plants in the south of the country - related to the opposition of residents and environmental groups - will not ease gas demand for power generation. Since domestic gas production (37 bcm in 2015) is expected to decline in the future, gas imports should rise significantly, reaching 17.4 Mt of LNG in 2022 and 34 Mt/year by 2036, compared to an initial target of 23 Mt/year.
LNG import capacities will have to be boosted. State-owned oil and gas company PTT, which operates the sole LNG terminal in Thailand, the 5 Mt/year Map Ta Phut terminal, is currently doubling its capacity to 10 Mt/year (expected in 2017); a third phase of 1.5-2 Mt/year is expected in 2019. The group is also developing a 5-7.5 Mt/year LNG import terminal in Rayong, due to start operation in 2022-2023 and is planning a 3 Mt/year floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) in neighbouring Myanmar, that could supply gas to Thailand as well. In addition, state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) is considering a similar 5 Mt/year FSRU in the Gulf of Thailand. Overall, Thailand could be able to import 17 Mt/year by 2022 and 25 Mt/year later.
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