CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS FOR NATIONAL ENERGY DEVELOPMENT POLICY: A CASE STUDY OF COAL POWER PLANT IN KRABI-THEPA

Abstract

         The objectives of the research article were 1) to analyze conflicts over the practice of the government’s energy policy, using a critical discourse framework2) to propose a management guideline and the proper energy policy formulation. This is qualitative research that utilized critical theory-based research, including in-depth interviews and observations of policymakers, villagers, the public sector, and general academicians with 18 persons as well as independent organizations. This research was conducted for 1 year and 11 months.

         The results of the study showed that: 1. there are conflicts, specifically related to environmental and people’s health effects. These reflect the power of policy and practice that do not match the facts in the area. 2. Under a community relocation condition affects a person's emotion, feeling, or thinking. It has also a direct impact on wetlands, generally include the integrity of mangrove forests.          3. Alternative energy should be established by the government's energy policy, according to the Sustainable Development Goals. There are still restrictions on the rules. 4. There is a need to balance economic development with environmental and ecological conservation. The Krabi and Thepha coal power plant construction project has been developed over many years with a social breaking point, based on the strong disagreement raised by the community. Each party establishes its own thought and opinion regarding the different reasons. The protestor, therefore, entered into a factual finding that was not just for their own group, this makes Thailand's energy agenda.