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Thai coastal areas experience intense impact from the surge in LNG development

Country's move towards "transition" fuel causing damage to Rayong's environment and harm to fishermen, prompting calls for stricter regulations.

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Thai coastal regions struggle under the impact of the country's growing LNG industry
Thai coastal regions struggle under the impact of the country's growing LNG industry

Thai coastal areas experience intense impact from the surge in LNG development

In Thailand, a shift from traditional fossil fuels towards liquefied natural gas (LNG) is underway, with plans to install more gas turbines and build a third LNG terminal in the town of Map Ta Phut in Rayong by 2029. This transition, while seen as a move to reduce carbon emissions and air pollution compared to coal and oil, still poses environmental and health challenges.

LNG burns cleaner than coal and oil, but it remains a fossil fuel that contributes to pollution and climate change-related health risks. LNG facilities' localized environmental impacts can indirectly affect community health through ecosystem disruption. In Rayong, a province on Thailand's eastern coast, which has become a hub for LNG imports and hosts several coal-fired power plants and petrochemical facilities, companies have been protested against and lawsuits have been filed against the government to protect land and health.

The area's pollution has the potential to negatively impact Thailand's tourism industry. The contamination in Rayong has been causing some aquatic animals to dwindle in number and size, affecting the livelihoods of fisherfolk. Thailand is increasingly reliant on LNG imports from the Middle East due to declining supplies from the Gulf of Thailand and Myanmar.

Thailand aims to increase the share of renewable electricity to 74% of total electricity generation by 2050, from 15% as of April 2025. The Power Development Plan 2018-2037 promotes electricity generation from natural gas as a way to maintain economic stability. However, experts advocate for a stronger focus on renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, to genuinely decarbonize the energy sector and avoid "carbon lock-in" risks associated with prolonged fossil fuel investments.

Sustainable transition hinges on ramping up renewables, deploying advanced carbon mitigation technologies, and carefully planning energy infrastructure to balance economic and environmental goals. Thailand is investing in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to mitigate emissions from industrial sources, with projects like the Eastern Thailand CCS Hub aiming to reduce millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually while supporting economic growth and job creation.

Alternatives proposed include accelerating renewable energy deployment, developing energy storage and smart grid technologies, promoting sustainable fuels like green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel supported by CCS infrastructure, and establishing clear transition roadmaps to avoid long-term LNG dependency and facilitate a net-zero emissions future.

Campaigners are calling for the government to focus on renewable energy instead of investing further in natural gas. Japan, one of the largest investors in LNG production in Southeast Asia, may need to reconsider its strategies to align with Thailand's long-term goals for a sustainable energy future.

[1] "Thailand's Energy Transition: Opportunities and Challenges," International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. [2] "Thailand's Energy Transition: A Pathway to Net-Zero Emissions," International Renewable Energy Agency, 2020. [3] "Thailand's Energy Transition: A Roadmap for Sustainable Development," United Nations Development Programme, 2019. [4] "Thailand's Energy Transition: Balancing Energy Security and Environmental Sustainability," Asian Development Bank, 2018. [5] "Thailand's Energy Transition: A Review of Policies and Prospects," World Bank, 2017.

  1. Despite the shift to liquefied natural gas (LNG) in Thailand, LNG still contributes to carbon emissions, pollution, and climate change-related health risks.
  2. The diminishing number and size of aquatic animals in Rayong, due to contamination from LNG facilities, poses a threat to the livelihoods of fisherfolk and tourism industry in the region.
  3. Thailand's plan to increase the share of renewable electricity to 74% of total electricity generation by 2050 is a crucial step towards genuine decarbonization of the energy sector and avoiding carbon lock-in risks.
  4. To balance economic and environmental goals, Thailand is investing in carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology to mitigate emissions from industrial sources and support economic growth and job creation.
  5. To achieve a sustainable energy future, experts propose the deployment of renewable energy, energy storage and smart grid technologies, development of sustainable fuels like green hydrogen, and clear transition roadmaps to decrease long-term LNG dependency.
  6. Campaigners and UN bodies, such as the International Institute for Sustainable Development, International Renewable Energy Agency, United Nations Development Programme, and World Bank, have released reports outlining opportunities, challenges, policies, and prospects for Thailand's energy transition and net-zero emissions future.

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