In support of a low-carbon society development, Electricity Generating Public Company Limited or EGCO Group recently shared three biodiversity goals at a seminar on “Biodiversity: the Natural Technology, the Solution” held by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning to celebrate the International Day for Biodiversity 2024. The goals will be achieved through the operations of its power plants in Thailand and other countries and the Thai Conservation of Forest Foundation (TCOF) or Thai Rak Pa Foundation.

Dr. Worpong Sinsukthavorn, EGCO Group’s SVP-Corporate Planning, one of representatives from the private sector on the seminar panel, said, “For over 32 years, EGCO Group has been strongly committed to doing business in parallel with caring for the environment, community and society to mutually achieve sustainable growth. As part of this commitment, we pay high attention to ensuring biodiversity conservation throughout the supply chain. The company has clearly set a policy and three goals related to biodiversity. The three goals are 1) Achieving no net loss related to biodiversity and reducing impact from our business operations on the ecosystem and biodiversity throughout the entire lifecycle of our power plants; 2) Creating net positive impact on biodiversity throughout the entire supply chain and operations; and 3) Avoiding any business activities, including operating, surveying and acquiring new power plants located near the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) protected areas or World Heritage sites. EGCO Group has also been actively conserving and rehabilitating natural resources and watershed forests in major areas across Thailand through the operations of the TCOF over the past 22 years.”

EGCO Group has introduced concrete activities to promote biodiversity in many domestic and overseas areas where its power plants operate. For example, Khanom Power Plant in Nakhon Si Thammarat created an animal database that provides habitat information in terms of species, numbers, and changes before and after the construction of the power plant. The power plant also conducts a dolphin population survey because dolphins are mammals, a key indicator of the marine ecosystem, and a key factor attracting visitors to Khanom District. In Rayong, EGCO Cogeneration Power Plant reduced water consumption used in the cooling system by increasing water recycling rate from 8 to 11 rounds. Quezon Power Plant in the Philippines has a sea turtle conservation project and rehabilitation of eroded mangrove forests. Boco Rock Wind Farm in Australia initiated an ecosystem study and bat protection project as bats are key local animals.

In addition, the company has continued its biodiversity restoration and conservation projects in major watershed forests in Thailand through the operations of TCOF, a non-profit organization established and supported by EGCO Group since 2002. The foundation focuses its operations in three areas – forest conservation and rehabilitation, quality of life improvement under “harmony co-existence of human and forest” theme as evidenced in the “Moo Ban Thai Rak Pa” village project, and strengthening of community network through “Thai Rak Pa Community Network” in many areas which concentrate on enhancing potential of communities in river basin areas and related organizations. At the same time, TCOF has instilled the conservation spirit among younger generation through the “Thai Rak Pa Youth Network” and the "nature trail development” projects.

Also at the International Day for Biodiversity 2024 event, EGCO Group held an exhibition showcasing its activities to promote biodiversity throughout the supply chain of its power plants in Thailand and overseas, as well as the activities initiated by the TCOF. The exhibition successfully drew a lot of attention from the participants.