Economy
Concerns Raised Over Thailand’s Draft PDP 2026 Energy Plan
Democrat Party energy advisor Trirong Sirichantaropas has criticized the draft Power Development Plan (PDP) 2026, questioning its feasibility and impact on electricity costs.
On September 10, 2026, Trirong Sirichantaropas, an energy advisor for the Democrat Party and the House Committee on Energy, publicly critiqued the Ministry of Energy’s draft Power Development Plan (PDP) 2026. Following a public hearing held by the Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) on September 8, Trirong argued that while the plan appears positive on the surface, it lacks transparency and clarity regarding its implementation.
The draft plan outlines a target to generate over 200,000 megawatts of electricity through green energy sources. However, Trirong expressed skepticism about the government's commitment to reducing electricity costs for the public, suggesting that the ambitious green energy goals might make lower utility bills difficult to achieve. He questioned whether the plan is a genuine effort to benefit citizens or merely rhetorical.
For residents and long-term visitors, this development is significant as the PDP 2026 serves as the primary framework for Thailand’s future power generation and acts as the basis for calculating electricity tariffs through the year 2050. While the plan sets the strategic direction for new power plants, the specific mechanisms for managing costs remain a point of contention. It remains to be confirmed how the Ministry of Energy will address these criticisms and whether the final version of the plan will include adjustments to ensure affordability for consumers.
