Energy Minister Ekkanat Prompan visited Rayong Province to monitor the project producing alternative fuel from community waste. The president of the Rayong Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) pointed out the city faces an overflowing garbage problem, making the Phase 2 waste power plant necessary.
28 August 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Ekkanat Prompan, Minister of Energy, along with his team, traveled to follow up on the community waste alternative fuel production project by the Rayong Provincial Administrative Organization (PAO) at the comprehensive waste disposal center conference room in Thap Ma Subdistrict, Mueang District, Rayong Province. They were welcomed by Mr. Traiphop Wongtrairat, Governor of Rayong Province; Mr. Piya Pitutecha, President of Rayong PAO; Mr. Chatchai Pitutecha, Member of Parliament for Rayong; Mr. Piti Pitutecha, party-list MP from the Bhumjaithai Party; Mr. Kitipong Urawat, District Chief of Mueang Rayong; local government executives; heads of provincial agencies; and local residents.
The PAO president revealed that currently, the area generates about 1,200 tons of waste daily, resulting in 700 tons of excess garbage in Rayong. The disposal center accepts waste from Rayong and nearby provinces, handling hundreds of trips daily, charging only 400 baht per ton, which is cheaper than elsewhere. Although the first-phase community waste power plant was constructed as an extension of the comprehensive waste disposal center project in Rayong, in partnership with GPSC, the first-phase waste power plant can only process 500 tons per day, leaving about 700 tons of leftover waste. Therefore, a second-phase waste power plant is necessary, which, once completed, will achieve the goal of 100% waste disposal. Currently, the Phase 2 waste power plant has not yet received central government approval, causing today's overflowing garbage problem. A 10-megawatt plant is needed to adequately handle the waste.
Minister Ekkanat said he came to follow up on two matters today. First, the waste power plant that the Rayong PAO has proposed. He acknowledged the PAO's capacity and needs. The forthcoming national Power Development Plan (PDP) will allocate quotas for waste power plants. Once all aspects in Rayong are ready, the provincial governor will proceed through the Ministry of Interior and request the electricity sales quota to establish the waste power plant. The minister promised to facilitate the Phase 2 waste power plant process.
The second issue concerns the local power development fund, which has faced obstacles in disbursing money for 2–3 years with little progress. A large amount of funds remains unused, possibly due to communication gaps between the Ministry of Energy and the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC). The minister pledged to act as a liaison to address outdated or unsuitable regulations that impede the fund’s use, aiming to serve the local community and industry so they can coexist harmoniously.