Report On Gas Project Rejected For Third Time
Thailand, 30 March 2001 -- The Science Ministry's Office of Environmental Policy and Planning has rejected for the third time the environmental-impact assessment of the Trans Thai-Malaysia (TTM) gas separation project.
OEPP secretary-general Saksit Tridet said yesterday that the office on Wednesday met to discuss issues related to environmental impacts from the proposed gas separation plant.
These included noise, water and air pollution, the impact of chemical substances on public safety and natural resources, environmental management, and public participation.
After discussing these topics, the OEPP board rejected the project on the grounds that its details were not precise enough to guarantee public safety and minimum environmental impacts.
The board will meet today to discuss the remaining topics.
TTM will be requested to submit more details on those aspects.
Saksit cited the detail on the company's study of the location of the plant at Songkhla province's Chana district.
The office found that the area is preserved forest overlapped with private land.
"We want to the company to clarify the overlapping area and how they plan to use it. The company also submitted an incomplete report on the forest land," he said.
Nor did the company clarify how it intends to increase public participation in the project. The public continues to oppose the project based on fears it will adversely affect livelihoods.
"We cannot approve the company's EIA study because we want to make sure that the project is transparent,'' said Saksit.
TTM is a joint venture between the Petroleum Authority of Thailand and Malaysia's Petronas.
The gas separation plant is part of Trans Thai-Malaysia's Bt40-billion investment plan to develop a natural gas separation plant and a 277-kilometre transmission pipeline from the Joint Development Area in the Gulf of Thailand to Songkhla's Chana district, with a further 97km on land.
Strong local opposition to the project turned violent in October when local residents tried to shut down a public hearing on the project in Hat Yai.
Meeting with strong opposition, the Chuan administration later announced after the incident that the Bt40-billion Thai-Malaysia gas-pipeline and gas-separation project could be constructed in Mabtapud in Rayong.
Savit, who was then PM's Office Minister, stressed the necessity of going ahead with the project, arguing that the country needed to become less dependent on petrol, which had become increasingly dear.
Source: The Nation
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