Title: Cross-border power trade with Myanmar: barriers and their removal from the Thai's perspective

Authors: Kensuke Yamaguchi; Prasert Reubroycharoen; Masahiro Sugiyama; Dawan Wiwattanadate; Hisashi Yoshikawa; Ichiro Sakata

Addresses: Energy Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University; Faculty of Arts, Chulalongkorn University, 12th Floor Institute Building III, Payathai Road Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand ' Department of Chemical Technology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phyathai Rd. Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand ' Policy Alternatives Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Ito International Research Center, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan ' Faculty of Engineering, Chulalongkorn University; Energy Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, 12th Floor Institute Building III, Payathai Road Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand ' Policy Alternatives Research Institute, The University of Tokyo, Ito International Research Center, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan ' Policy Alternatives Research Institute, The University of Tokyo; Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Ito International Research Center, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan

Abstract: How can we remove barriers regarding the cross-border electric power trade between Myanmar and Thailand for the promotion of power integration? While Myanmar has traded electricity with China, the bilateral power trade with Thailand has made little progress. Taking some cases such as Dawei, through stakeholder meetings and focus group interviews, using the frameworks derived from a UN literature survey, we have identified the characteristics of distinctive barriers related to fuel types. While coal-fired power projects tend to experience more issues related to economic barriers, hydropower projects are likely to face social barriers, often interrelated with environmental issues. As both barriers are embedded within insufficient legal arrangements, legal technical assistances are crucially required.

Keywords: Myanmar; cross-border power trade; stakeholder meeting; barrier analysis; GMS.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPP.2018.090671

International Journal of Public Policy, 2018 Vol.14 No.1/2, pp.30 - 49

Received: 28 Feb 2015
Accepted: 11 Mar 2016
Published online: 27 Mar 2018 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article