Map Tha Phut projects can proceed despite pollution declaration

Nong Fab is among the communities located near Map Ta Phut industrial estate that have been affected by air pollution in Rayong. The NEB has recently published the declaration of Map Ta Phut as a pollution-control area in the Royal Gazette, said Mr. Sorayut Petchtrakul, an adviser to the Industry Minister.

The agency was acting to comply with a March ruling by the Administrative Court, in response to longstanding complaints about pollution by residents in nearby communities in Rayong province.

“The declaration does not mean prior pollution controls did not achieve international standards,” Said Mr. Petchtrakul. “However, the new mechanisms bring local community involvement into the pollution-control system, so it reflects the views of all stakeholders.”

The NEB members, which include Rayong’s governor, have clarified that all investment plans in the area, including those with environmental impact assessment (EIA) approval and those in the process of seeking EIAs, can proceed as normal.

“This is the issue that we have been trying to clarify so we can tell investors whether the declaration would affect their projects,” said Mr. Petchtrakul.

The NEB plans to forward a written statement within two weeks to the Board of Investment (BOI), so that the latter can answer investors’ questions, he further added.

Mr. Petchtrakul also said 600 billion Baht worth of investment projects were currently in the pipeline within Map Ta Phut. Of the total, projects worth 400 billion Baht already have EIA approval and are moving ahead with development. The rest are in the process of seeking EIAs.

“It was clear in the NEB meeting that we did not want to see the investments halted because of the pollution-control zone declaration. Therefore, until the new mechanism is officially announced, the existing mechanism applies,” he said.

The new system could alter pollution policies because community consultations will be carried out, but it should not affect previous investments as long as the industries in question have pollution-control practices that meet international standards.