New power and petrochemical plants planned for Map Ta Phut in Rayong will be delayed until the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry can come up with academic research to pinpoint which toxic substances in the area are causing cancers, Energy Minister Piyasvasti Amranand said yesterday.

"The research should be available in one to two months, so that the involved authorities as well as all stakeholders can come up with the right solutions to solve the problems," Piyasvasti said at a seminar on "3E (Energy, Environment and Economics)", organised by Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering.

"The data on toxicity should be based on academic information, not imagination or feeling. If any industrial plants are believed to be the source of those toxic substances, we should fix the problems at the root and not aim the weapon at power plants," he said.

He said research should show which substances are causing cancer, the degree of seriousness and which kind of industrial plants could emit those toxic materials. He added that the research would enable setting appropriate environmental standards, which are necessary as inappropriate standards would cost the country economically.

Piyasvasti also noted that if the problem was as serious as reported, old and new plants should be able to handle the situation with the help of advanced technology.

He said all proposed petrochemical plants and power plants would be delayed until the new standards are enforced.

Dechrat Sookkamnerd, an economics lecturer at Kasetsart University, said at the seminar that Map Ta Phut should be declared a toxic-control area until new environment standards are enforced. After that, any industrial plants emitting toxic substances above limits should be told to tackle the problem while new plants should be subject to the new environment measures.

Piyasvasti said that even without the reported toxic problems, the industrial estate at Map Ta Phut is crowded and could reach saturation point in the next five to 10 years. He said it was necessary for the government to find a new location to accommodate the expansion of energy and petrochemical industries and suggested the Southern Seaboard as a possible site.

Dechrat said the government should make sure the new location was far enough from communities to avoid causing a similar problem to that at the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate.

Meanwhile, the Energy Ministry, the National Environment Policy and Planning Office and PTT will today discuss the issue of pollution caused by emissions.

Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said yesterday that in handling the environmental problems in Rayong, local people would be invited to share their views while academic research is necessary.

He referred to the national environment board's resolution last week to come up with academic research on the situation as well as stricter pollution-controlling measures.

"The plan to reduce pollution should be completed within a year," he said. "If all plants cooperate, the pollution could be less severe and that could pave the way for more industrial plants." He added that the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand would procure equipment to come up with more precise pollution readings.