Gas from Yadana covers 15 to 20% of Thailand's demand. The
country's economic growth has fueled a rapid rise in electricity
demand, which is increasing by 6 to 7% a year. Around 70%
of power generation in Thailand is gas-fired, using local
gas resources supplemented by gas from Myanmar's Yadana and
Yetagun fields.
Yadana gas is piped from the field to the gas grid that
supplies the Ratchaburi and Wang Noi power plants in the
Bangkok region (total capacity of 6400 MW, with Yadana gas
used to generate 2500 MW). The gas takes the same onshore route in Myanmar as gas from the Yetagun field, with both delivered
at the border to Thai consumer PTT under long-term contracts.
Yadana's production therefore establishes an important, long-term
economic link between the two countries and contributes to the
regional integration of Myanmar, which has too long been isolated
from Southeast Asia's assertive growth. For instance, Myanmar
only joined ASEAN in 1997.
Contractually, Myanmar is entitled to take up to 20% of Yadana's
production for domestic consumption. Until recently, it was taking about half of its entitlement, with 40 to 50 million cubic feet per day (1.1 to 1.4 million cubic meters per day). Since December 2006, it is taking 100 to 110 million cubic feet per day (2.8 to 3.1 million cubic meters per day). The gas is piped further north to a cement factory in Myaingkalay and then to Yangon via a pipeline built and operated by MOGE that ties into the Yadana pipeline at Kanbauk.
