4 Map Ta Phut projects resume work

BANGKOK, 10 March 2010 (NNT) – The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) has resolved to permit the construction of four more Map Ta Phut industrial projects, previously suspended by the court’s injunction.

Mr Sorayud Petchtrakul, Assistant to the Industry Minister and Chairman of committee in charge of seeking solutions to Map Ta Phut industrial projects, disclosed that the continuation of the four frozen projects was due to the fact that they are extended parts of the exisiting projects and thus do not require new environmental impact assessments (EIA).

The panel is preparing to seek the court’s order to unfreeze another 9 projects over the next few weeks, said Mr Sorayud, adding that four of them were owned by PTT Asahi Chemical Company Limted. The company has already imported the necessary equipment and machinery for the projects which are now under construction. The remaining projects have also been granted operating licences and have ordered machinery and construction materials.

The Administrative Court earlier issued an injunction for 76 projects in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate to halt functioning for their failure to comply with environmental and health impact assessment requirements as required by the Constitution. 21 industrial projects are presently allowed to resume operation, while 55 others remain frozen.