Woraphop critiques the PDP2026 plan for restricting public participation, overestimating electricity demand, and withholding cost data. He expresses concern that adding 9,100 MW of natural gas power plants will drive up household electricity prices and negatively affect long-term competitiveness in the energy sector.
On 16 September 2026 at the Parliament building, the People's Party held a press conference to report on the 12th Shadow Cabinet meeting. Former party-list MP Woraphop Viriyaroj outlined the party's views on the draft of Thailand's new Power Development Plan (PDP2026).
Woraphop stated that the People's Party views the PDP2026 process as a repeated flawed energy planning effort favoring established energy investors and leading to higher electricity costs for the public. The first issue is that the public consultation period was only one week, from 8 to 15 September. When he attended the hearing on 8 September, registered public representatives were not allowed to participate, reflecting restrictions on genuine public engagement in energy planning that affects the country's long-term future.
The second issue concerns electricity demand assumptions. Although several assumptions have changed—GDP growth estimates were lowered from over 3% to 2.5%, and population assumptions shifted from growth to decline—the forecasted electricity demand remains close to that in the PDP2024 draft. Moreover, compared to data from earlier consultations this year, demand forecasts increased by about 2,300 MW, indicating an overestimation of electricity demand.
The third issue is the non-disclosure of cost assumptions for electricity generation from each power plant type, which is critical for deciding power sources. The draft plan calls for building an additional 9,100 MW of natural gas power plants, which will rely on imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) currently costing about 6 baht per unit. Without revealing these cost assumptions, the public cannot verify whether choosing to expand natural gas power plants is appropriate.
This flawed planning could raise household electricity costs by about 0.50 baht per unit beyond the plan's projections. Excessive construction of natural gas power plants would not only burden consumers with higher bills but also affect the country's competitiveness in terms of production costs, foreign investment attraction, and readiness for clean energy compared to neighboring countries.
Woraphop further urged the government, especially the Ministry of Energy, to disclose key data used in preparing PDP2026, including energy cost assumptions for each type, and to genuinely open the process for public participation and feedback. This would allow reconsideration of plans to build 9,100 MW of new natural gas power plants during the plan’s first 12 years.
“Adding more natural gas power plants than necessary will increase electricity costs, hurting Thailand's long-term competitiveness and reducing the country's attractiveness for investments in clean energy,” Woraphop concluded.