PTT appeals against court´s order on Map Ta Phut case

BANGKOK, 6 January 2010 (NNT) – PTT Public Company Limited has appealed against a court order which has halted the operation of its projects located in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate.

Mr. Auttapol Rerkpiboon, Executive Vice President for Corporate Communication & Social Responsibility of PTT Public Co., Ltd stated that the PTT Group and its subsidiary lodged appeals over the past week against the Supreme Administrative Court’s order suspending the operation of its industrial projects in eastern province of Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. He said each firm has also filed separate complaints to all relevant agencies, such as the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and the Department of Industrial Works for the resumption of the projects.

All of the frozen projects under the supervision of PTT Group were among the 19 industrial projects endorsed by the Cabinet to seek the court’s deliberation, said Mr Auttapol, adding that those suspended did not create pollution and environmental impacts as well as passed the environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirement before the promulgation of 2007 Constitution.

The Administrative Court earlier issued an injunction for 76 projects in the Map Ta Phut industrial estate to temporarily halt functioning for their failure to meet environmental and health impact assessments as required by the Constitution. The Supreme Administrative Court has given the green light to 12 industrial projects to resume operation while 64 others are still frozen.