BANGKOK, April 3 (TNA) – The Ministry of Energy insisted that leakage in the natural gas pipeline from Myanmar's Yetagun gas field won't be a burden to the Thai public's electric power bills, saying Thailand's energy giant PTT will postpone the shutdown of the Myanmar's gas pipeline and has reserved fuel oil supplies from Malaysia to take up the slack.
Energy Minister Poonpirom Liptapanlop said that although the Yetagun gas field in the Gulf of Martaban and the Arthit gas field in the Gulf of Thailand have problems, there will be no shortage of electricity.
Speaking about higher cost of production incurred by using fuel oil to replace natural gas, she said it won't put the burden on consumers as the operator of the gas fields has the insurance policy and the baht has strengthened, which help reduce to the production cost.
Malaysia's Petronas, operator of the Yetagun gas field, informed PTT that repairs to the gas pipeline will be completed within five days.
PTT imported fuel oil from Malaysia at the rate of 10 million litres per day for reserve and announced postponement of the pipeline shutdown scheduled on April 11-20 for maintenance work.
Thailand imported 1,160 million cubic feet per day from the Yetagun gas field and 700 million cubic feet per day from the Yanada gas field.
The Yetagun gas field suspended supplying gas to Thailand on April 2 due to two gas pipeline leakages. (TNA)-E004
Business News : Last Update : 18:28:35 3 April 2008 (GMT+7:00)
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