Thai Government Rejects Logical Plan on Electric Privatisation

After Thailand’s energy minister rejected a proposal by EGAT-LU that would prevent the privatisation of that nation’s electric power system, the ICEM affiliate announced it would resume mass demonstrations to mobilize the public against next year’s planned privatisation. EGAT-LU is seeking government backing of the electricity market so private firms will not dominate. The union also called on the government to help finance Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) construction of new power plants and not to use public debt as the excuse to sell EGAT to the private sector.