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Laos to supply electricity to Malaysia via Thailand
Thailand will sign a tripartite electricity-trading agreement with Laos and Malaysia, engaging in transmission process.
Vietnam News Agency reported permanent secretary of the Thai Energy Ministry Areepong Bhoocha-Oom said the agreement is scheduled to be inked at the Asean Energy Ministers’ Meeting in Manila Sept 17-22.
Under the agreement, Laos will sell electricity to Malaysia, using Thailand’s transmission system, with the volume of up to 100MW.
The agreement will pave the way for the materialisation of an Asean power grid, which was first floated at an informal Asean summit in late 1997, he said.
He said he hoped that the power-grid integration among Thailand, Malaysia and Laos, would encourage other Asean nations to move in the same direction.
He said there is a possibility of Thailand becoming an electricity-transmission hub in the region, because China has invested in many hydroelectric dams in Laos and Cambodia and has proposed that Thailand provide transmission services.
Separately, more than a quarter of Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) workforce, or 8,800 employees, and some workers of its contractors will work during the Aidifitri festival to ensure uninterrupted supply of electricity for the convenience of those celebrating Adilfitri.
They will be on 24-hour standby duty, said TNB senior general manager (distribution network) Wan Nazmy Wan Mahmood.
“TNB is making preparations to minimise any potential electricity interruption during the festive season, including inspections at all power stations and substations,” he said in a statement.
In addition, improvements to the substation system to accommodate increased load expectations in some areas are also being implemented.
“More than 60 sets of mobile generators with capacity ranging from 125 KVA to 1,250 KVA are also on standby to be used as an alternative supply source, if the need arises.”
Wan Nazmy advised consumers to contact the TNB Customer Service Centre at 15454 or Facebook TNB Careline for assistance in the event of a power failure during the Aidilifitri celebration.
Source: http://www.therakyatpost.com/?p=284580