Posted on 22 Apr 2009
A hundred small industrial plants across the nation on Tuesday signed up for the Industrial Works Department's energy-saving programme, which promotes energy reduction and production efficiency.
The industrial plants in the programme will win partial financial supports from the department. But they must reduce energy cost by no less than 10 per cent.
Ratchada Singalavanija, director-general of the department, said that the programme, launched in 2007, helped participants reduce energy cost by 14 per cent in the year worth Bt69 million. In 2008, it saved 22 per cent or Bt87 million. He expected this year's programme to save the cost by Bt100 million.
This year's programme will also evaluate the participants' reduction of greenhouse gases, to pave way for carbon credit trading. Last year's programme cost reduction is equivalent to the reduction of greenhouse gases by 5,000 tonnes, and Ratchada expected higher figures this year.
The programme is part of the department's objective to make industrial plants more friendly to the environment and community. To achieve the objective, Ratchada said, the authorities will put control from the beginning. Industrial plants which are tapping investment privileges are now restricted to those who are in the green industry. Moreover, existing small plants would be encouraged to be green, while many large plants have improved themselves to match the global buyers' environmental concerns.
There are over 110,000 industrial plants across the nation. However, fewer than 80,000 are registered and obtain operating licenses.
