The National Environmental Board expects to reconsider new investment plans for Map Ta Phut in the next few weeks following an improved situation along the Eastern Seaboard, where pollution problems seem to be under control, Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras said yesterday.

Pollution-control measures for the industrial area will be reviewed by the Cabinet today, along with some investment projects that are part of the petrochemical industry's development Phase 3.

"We'll consider which industries the country needs," Kosit said. "Moreover, we'll give priority to those business operators who have helped us by reducing pollution emission at existing plants."

Earlier, he said consideration of new investment would take place only when Thailand had a master plan to combat pollution in the area, where toxic industrial emissions are believed to have been a major cause of deadly health problems among local residents.

The plan, completed by the Industrial Works Department, requires private companies operating in the Rayong area - including Thailand's biggest oil and gas conglomerate, PTT - to spend about Bt1.2 billion to cut toxic emissions.

Kosit said although his ministry would soon consider new petrochemical investment plans, he had yet to discuss the issue with PTT.

Priority will be given to the investment plans of those companies that have agreed to reduce toxic emissions at existing plants.

"The pollution emissions of new projects must be less than the reduced emissions from existing plants," he said.

For example, if plant A was releasing 100 units of toxic substances, and the operator reduced that by half by introducing advanced technologies, then the operator's new plant would be allowed to emit only 20 units of toxic substances.

The Energy Ministry said seven or eight business proposals from oil, gas and petrochemical companies were waiting for environmental-assessment studies. Despite pollution problems in Map Ta Phut, they still prefer to locate new plants in the area, because of proximity to other petrochemical plants that facilitate their business operations.

Following increasing industrial pollution problems, the Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning Office is also expected to impose new environmental standards. New industrial plants will be subject to a stricter approval process. As well as adopting standard pollution-control systems, they must also be accepted by the communities in which they will be located.

The Industry Ministry said its pollution-reduction plan for Rayong would also require plants to set aside funds to ensure their protection measures were up to standard.

The master plan will also specify the need of infrastructure management systems to ensure that waste or residue does not foul the environment. Plants will also come under more informed scrutiny by local communities, non-governmental organisations and local media.

Chalida  Ekvitthayavechnukul

The Nation