BANGKOK, Jan 30 (TNA) – Pradit Fuengfu, Deputy Governor of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and PEA spokesperson, addressed the issue of electricity sales along the Mae Sai border, amid concerns that it may be linked to gray businesses, call center gangs, and drug trafficking, affecting national security.
Regarding the two key areas – Mae Sot, which supplies electricity to Myawaddy, and Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province, which supplies electricity to Tachileik – Pradit explained that the Cabinet resolution of 1996 approved the PEA to sell electricity to neighboring countries in villages near the Thai border without requiring further policy-level approval.
Currently, the PEA supplies electricity to Myanmar in five locations. These include Three Pagodas Pass serving Payathongzu in Mon State, Ban Mueang Daeng and the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge both supplying Tachileik in Shan State, and the Second Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and Ban Huai Muang, both providing power to Myawaddy in Kayin State.
The suspension of electricity supply or termination of contracts can occur in two cases.
First, if the contracting party breaches the agreement, such as by failing to pay electricity bills promptly or neglecting to provide the required contract guarantees, service can be disrupted. Second, if the electricity supply is deemed to negatively impact the country’s security, service can also be terminated.
He emphasized that the PEA operates in accordance with established procedures and cannot cut off power arbitrarily. Confirmation from relevant agencies, such as security agencies or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required to establish that Thai security is being affected before power can be cut off.
The PEA has sent letters requesting consultations with all relevant agencies next week to determine how to proceed.
The PEA’s revenue from supplying electricity to the five Myanmar border points is only 800 million baht per year, or 0.2% of its total revenue from electricity supply across Thailand, which is 600 billion baht per year.
In addition to the Myanmar border, the PEA also supplies electricity to neighboring countries in similar arrangements in nine locations in Cambodia and four locations in Laos. -819 (TNA)
