China, Thailand agree to nuclear energy cooperation

China, Thailand agree to nuclear energy cooperation

China and Thailand have a signed an agreement to cooperate in the peaceful
use of nuclear energy. The agreement was signed in Beijing on 29 March by
Nur Bekri, director of China's National Energy Administration (NEA), and
Thai energy minister Anantaporn Kanchanarat.

According to an NEA statement on 1 April, the two countries also discussed
bilateral cooperation on nuclear power, power networking, power trading and
others areas of potential cooperation.

"China is very willing to provide Thailand with the most advanced, most
economical and safest nuclear power technology, as well as equipment,
management experience and quality service," China General Nuclear (CGN) said
the same day.

CGN added that China and Thailand had cooperated in nuclear energy over
recent years. In particular, China has provided training for hundreds of
Thai nuclear professionals and technical personnel.

Bekri said he hoped that through the agreement, China and Thailand can
"strengthen communication, enhance understanding and make greater progress
in nuclear cooperation".

Thailand's National Energy Policy Council commissioned a feasibility study
for a nuclear power plant in the country and in 2007 approved a Power
Development Plan for 2007-2021, including the construction of 4000 MWe of
nuclear generating capacity, starting up in 2020-21. The new Power
Development Plan 2010-30, approved in 2010, envisages five 1000 MWe units
starting up over 2020-28.

In June 2015, CGN said Thailand was carrying out an independent review of
the Hualong One reactor technology. The design, CGN anticipates, could make
Thailand's short-list for possible deployment in any future nuclear power
program.

Ratchaburi Electricity Generating Holding - Thailand's largest private power
company - agreed in December 2015 to take a 10% stake in the two Hualong One
reactors being built as Phase II of CGN's Fangchenggang nuclear power plant
in China's Guangxi province.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/NP-China-Thailand-agree-to-nuclear-energy-
cooperation-0504174.html

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com