Nakhon Si Thammarat road plunged into darkness after solar panel thefts

A three-kilometre stretch of road in Muang district of Nakhon Si Thammarat is now completely dark at night after thieves stole the remaining solar panels from all 98 streetlight poles along the route.

The road is Sirinakhon-uthit, which runs between Sala Mechai and Pak Nakhon sub-districts in Muang district.

Villagers told Thai PBS that 98 poles had been fitted with solar panels along both sides of the three-kilometre stretch. Now, only the poles remain.

They said solar panels and batteries had been stolen for years, but no one had been caught. Similar thefts had also occurred on other roads, including in Ban Huay Thalay. In isolated areas, thieves had stolen both the poles and the solar panels.

In 2017, the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administrative Organisation began installing solar-powered streetlights along 22 roads, using 200 million baht in government funding. About 3,000 poles equipped with solar panels and batteries were installed, at a cost of around 65,000 baht each.

Complaints alleging corruption were filed, prompting an investigation by the Office of the National Anti-Corruption Commission's Region 8 office. Ten officials have been implicated, but the case remains pending, and no officials have been convicted.

Apart from theft, the lack of maintenance has also become a problem. Local administrative organisations have refused to take responsibility for maintaining the poles, solar panels and batteries, citing a lack of funding. As a result, many of the streetlight poles have fallen into disrepair.

Main photo: Solar-powered streetlight poles in Nakhon Si Thammarat province (file photo).