Oct. 8--With power demand falling, Egat International Co, an overseas investment arm of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, is shifting its focus to operating and maintenance services for power plant operators.

The international business subsidiary, established in 2007, oversees all of Egat's investments outside Thailand, said Sutat Patmasiriwat, a deputy governor of the state power utility.

But plummeting power demand has made Egat International postpone two overseas projects -- the 440-megawatt Nam Ngiep hydropower plant in Laos and the Hutgyi hydropower plant in Burma -- neither of which have started construction.

Egat holds both plants' operating licences from their governments.

To develop its new business focus, Egat International is in talks with the US-based GE Group on conducting a feasibility study into providing operating and maintenance services to privately run power plants.

Egat is not only looking at the domestic market but has hopes of opportunities across Indochina. The company may also hold discussions with Siemens AG on doing business together. It is also planning to diversify into coal mines, but Mr Sutat declined to give details.

In June, Egat invested in Egat Diamond Service, a new joint venture in which Egat and the Mitsubishi Group each hold 45 percent and Ratchaburi Power Generating Holding Plc 10 percent of the registered capital of 623 million baht.

It aims to provide gas-turbine generator part repairs, targeting overseas gas-fired power plants, starting from 2011.

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