Banpu pushes responsibility
Thailand's giant energy companies are adopting a growing number of social responsibility programmes, tempting industry observers to comment that legitimacy has lately become a preoccupation, following the social and economic fall out from the Thaksin Shinawatra-Shin Corp deal.
International coal miner Banpu, for instance, launched an environmentally friendly project yesterday as part of a campaign to promote its social responsibility. In collaboration with Mahidol University's Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Banpu will organise a "Power Green Camp" project in which about 70 high-school students will be selected to attend a seven-day environmental camp in October. Banpu's chief executive, Chanin Vongkusolkit, said the company has laid out plans for the next three years to support education and the environment. The "Power Green" project will educate students about alternative energies and pollution controls and create awareness among consumers. Chanin said the company will focus on innovation and will encourage youngsters to be more creative in protecting the environment. "We want to return something to society," he said. "This campaign doesn't have [anything] to do with business at all." The company's senior vice president for corporate communications in electricity generating, Wuthichai Sithipreedanant, said Banpu has a policy of promoting the environment, but focuses more on environmental conservation and protection.
Watcharapong Thongrung The Nation
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