CK Power Plc (CKPower), one of the largest producers of renewables-based electricity with one of the lowest carbon footprints in the region, has been presented with an award in the category of "Rising Star Sustainability Awards" for sustainability excellence at the SET Awards 2022, one of the year's major accolades accorded by the Stock Exchange of Thailand in conjunction with Money and Banking Magazine.
The award reflects CKPower's commitment to increasingly produce electricity from renewables and clean energy, as well as to use engineering expertise to provide remote areas with access to electricity in line with the company's business principles.
Thanawat Trivisvavet, managing director of CKPower, said: "The SET Awards 2022 in the category of 'Rising Star Sustainability Awards' is one of the proudest accolades we've received from the Stock Exchange of Thailand and Money and Banking Magazine. It testifies to CKPower's commitment and hard work in economic, environmental and social dimensions, as well as in ESG [environment, social and governance] to bring our organisation to sustainable growth and equilibrium amid economic pressure from multiple directions.
"The challenging crisis facing the energy industry is the global energy trend. We are facing fuel shortages and climate change and have to respond to a national target for net zero emissions. We at CKPower are very well aware of these factors and have set our goal to consistently produce electricity from clean energy like renewables in increasing proportions. We are also making sure that every step of our work is directed towards achieving net zero by 2050, which is well ahead of the 2065 national target."
In the context of caring for society, CKPower said it has carried out activities for the environment and communities at both local and national levels through its Hinghoi Project, which has been running for six successive years under the "Competency-Co-Creation-Cooperation-Connection" principles, with the aim of creating constructive value in harmony with the values of local communities surrounding its power plants and those located in remote areas of Thailand and Laos.
Through the Hinghoi Project, CKPower has provided a total of 40 public buildings in Thailand and Laos to benefit local communities. The programme has provided around 1,700 children and young people in eight local communities with access to basic utilities. The Hinghoi Project has created seven learning centres concerning renewable energy, including a micro hydropower turbine, a solar-powered school building, a solar-powered water pump reservoir, and a solar-powered street lighting system. They are the result of a collaborative effort of approximately 800 volunteers from CKPower's staff, in conjunction with 16 relevant agencies.
"CKPower remains on track to reach our goal of helping to build a sustainable energy industry, whether in production, distribution or infrastructure, with our focus on producing electricity from clean energy and renewables," Mr Thanawat said.
"CKPower currently produces 89% of its electricity from renewables and has set a target to increase the proportion of renewable-based electricity to 95% in five years. We also take a cautious approach to our business operations and we are flexible in response to future changes of technology and innovation while also looking after society and local communities through our social responsibility strategy, specifically the Hinghoi Project, which efficiently provides local communities with an ecosystem of renewables-based electricity of the future. All of this has contributed to the long-term sustainability of the country's economic and social growth."
CKPower has also been selected to be included on the SET's Thailand Sustainability Investment list for three straight years, for which it has been presented with a plaque of honour. In addition, the company has been rated "Excellent" for the fifth straight year in the Corporate Governance Report of the Thai Listed Companies for 2022 by the Thai Institute of Directors. The company said it was testament to the consistent improvement of its business conduct, especially in its focus on sustainability covering the environment, society and corporate governance, as well as its transparency with attention to stakeholders' roles in accordance with investors' expectations.
