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Rayong’s Energy Demand

Rayong harbor almost takes Praipol and their Thai team members by surprise

The renowned Professor of Energy Economics, Praipol Koomsup from the Thammasat University in Bangkok, arrives in the evening – just as the colorful fishing port of Rayong is bustling with preparations for another night of fishing. He has agreed to help us with our documentary for Living Energy about distributed energy generation in Thailand, which turns out to be a stroke of luck.

Not only is Praipol extremely knowledgeable, his impromptu lecture, delivered as he leans on the harbor rails, is also engaging and captivating. Thailand’s economic structure is sketched out before us, while the importance of distributed energy generation becomes tangible, right here, in the province of Rayong, which is shaped by the fishing industry. Behind Praipol, the picturesque scenery changes as the brightly painted fishing boats leave the harbor.

Location of Contrasts

“There are more restrictions on building new power plants, based on environmental issues. People in Thailand are worried about the effect of having power plants near their homes, for example, because of the air quality,” he closes his first rough sketch of the current situation, explaining how the Siemens turbines, which have the best performance in reducing NOx emissions, come into the picture.

The beauty of Rayong harbor almost takes Praipol and our Thai team members by surprise. It’s not one of the famous tourist locations, yet captivating and full of atmosphere. The young filmmaker in our journalistic team, Disspong Sampattavanich is excited: “In this amazing location, home to industrial companies and the fishing industry, the main concept of our film will really spring to life: the symbiosis of fire and ice, hot and cold, water and land, red and blue, dry and fresh.”

Energy and Ice

The following day we all visit the ice factory of Rayong: A large roof over an open-spaced production area. Locally produced energy powers the ice production, which is vital to Thailand’s seafood export industry. Young women and men move huge ice blocks to the waiting trucks. Praipol summarizes how power generation influences the fishing industry: “A lot of electricity is needed to produce ice, which is used to keep fish and seafood fresh. In the olden days, people would dry fish to prevent it from perishing. Today, without electricity and a stable supply of ice there would be no export of seafood from Thailand.”

All the while, half a dozen small children who play everyday in the shade under the huge roof of the ice factory in Rayong are timidly watching our film shoot. Their parents are factory workers who are allowed to bring their children with them to work.

Details

  • 2 Soi Phra Chan, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 10200, Thailand
  • Praipol Koomsup, Thammasat University in Bangkok