Thailand's state electricity firm said Wednesday it had signed a contract with a US company to conduct a feasibility study for what would be the nation's first nuclear power plant.
The Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) signed a 4.97-million-dollar contract with engineering firm Burns and Roe Asia for a 20-month study and will decide whether to press ahead with nuclear power in late 2010.
"The feasibility study will cover nuclear power plant safety, radioactive waste, location, environmental impact, personnel planning and development, as well as suitability for nuclear technology," the statement said.
EGAT said it was searching for alternatives to fossil fuels.
Currently Thailand relies on natural gas for about two thirds of its electricity production. The rest comes mainly from coal and hydropower.
Thailand's power demand is higher than its production capacity, forcing the kingdom to import electricity from neighbours such as Laos and Malaysia, leaving it particularly exposed to price volatility.
Thai government officials have previously said that they could begin construction on a nuclear plant as early as 2014.
