Governing energy infrastructure controversy: A Political ecology analysis of the Mae Moh coal-fired power plant in Lampang Province, Thailand

Abstract

This thesis examines the governing strategies of the Thai power sector, with a specific focus on the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT), in response to social and environmental controversies related to its energy infrastructure systems. In the 1990s, EGAT faced a legitimacy crisis caused by excessive sulfur dioxide emissions from its coal operations in the Mae Moh district of Lampang province. In response to this crisis, EGAT implemented new governing strategies to address the social and environmental controversies surrounding coal. Using a post-structural approach to power in political ecology and drawing on Foucault’s concept of governmentality, this thesis presents a conceptual framework called ‘governing coal controversy.’ The framework consists of two aspects: ‘framing problems’ and ‘rendering governable’ by utilizing various technologies. Empirical research for this study involved fieldwork in Mae Moh, employing qualitative methodologies such as documentary research, interviews, observations, and spatial discourse analysis. The empirical analysis reveals that EGAT narrowly defined the multifaceted problems of coal exploitation and combustion as an excessive emission of SO2 problem, as well as issues of villagers’ ‘mistrust’ and ‘misunderstanding’ regarding its efforts to address the social and environmental problems caused by its coal business in Mae Moh. Based on this problem framing, EGAT implemented socio-technical interventions such as technological fix, corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, and public relations (PR) activities since the 2000s. These interventions served as temporary solutions for the Thai power sector, deferring the discussion on coal phase-out and postponing the consideration of climate change issues. Additionally, they increased the dependency of residents on EGAT, resulting in EGAT-dependent subjectivities and establishing patron-client relations. The empirical analysis highlights that EGAT’s strategies for governing coal controversy have not only led to carbon lock-in but also patronage lock-in within the context of Thailand. The framework of ‘governing coal controversy’ proves useful in providing a comprehensive and systematic understanding of the coal industry’s responses to its legitimacy crisis in the era of climate change. Furthermore, this thesis enriches the field of political ecology by demonstrating how the framework can be applied to examine similar conflicts and power dynamics in other energy infrastructure development contexts. It also offers valuable insights for scholars and policymakers to delve into the underlying issues of energy transition, moving beyond surface-level phenomena and temporary solutions.