Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Coal Country Notes

Thailand has sizeable resources of lignite, notably at Mae Moh in the north of the country. For the 2004 SER, the Thai WEC Member Committee reported proved recoverable reserves of 1 354 million tonnes; the maximum deposit depth taken into consideration was approximately 700 m, while the minimum seam thickness was 0.30 m. In respect of the present Survey, the Member Committee has reported a proved amount in place for lignite of 2 056 million tonnes, and an estimated additional amount in place of 2 857 million tonnes.

The 2005 edition of the annual publication Thailand Energy Situation, issued by the Department of Energy Development and Promotion, quotes total lignite reserves as 2 870 million tonnes. In this context, the reserves are defined as including 'the remaining reserve from produced area as well as the measured and indicated reserve from undeveloped area'.

Annual output of lignite increased by almost 90% between 1990 and 1997, but has since levelled off. All of Mae Moh's production is consumed by the Mae Moh power plant (2 625 MW). On the other hand, most of the lignite produced by other Thai mines is used by industry, chiefly in cement manufacture. Imports of bituminous coal are mostly destined for consumption in the iron and steel sector.