Giants set to present plans to cut toxic emissions
PTT and the Siam Cement Group will tomorrow present their toxic-emission reduction plans to a committee overseeing pollution problems in the Map Ta Phut industrial belt, after receiving permission from Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras to proceed with petrochemical projects.
PTT plans to spend Bt3 billion to cut pollution at plants in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, while SCG will spend about Bt4 billion. PTT's Rayong Refinery will also spend more than US$170 million (Bt5.91 billion) to make its production process more environmentally friendly by installing advanced technology and using low-sulphur oil. After meeting with SCG president Kan Trakulhoon and PTT president Prasert Bunsumpun at Government House, Kosit said they could expand their petrochemical complexes as long as pollution was kept at a very low level. Kosit also noted that by the second half, it would be clearer how the government would stimulate the economy. Aside from the injection of Bt300 billion into Map Ta Phut, the Board of Investment has many more projects up for promotion. Late next month, 30-40 investors will be invited to discuss their project proposals. Bidding on two mass-transit routes in August should also help. Besides the Bt7-billion investment plans of PTT and SCG, other operators will contribute to the Healthy Rayong Fund, he said. The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand will start up a fund for 25 Map Ta Phut communities, with Bt10 million from the government. The private sector will also chip in. Public agencies have also allocated Bt1 billion to improve public healthcare and infrastructure, he added. Prajya Phinyawat, PTT's senior executive vice president for petrochemical and refining operations - also seen at Government House - said the group had many projects slated for Map Ta Phut but all of them could take shape only after the government's environmental measures for the area came into focus. "We're here to discuss with the minister government guidelines in dealing with the environmental problems, for mutual understanding that existing plants must first reduce toxic emissions, and then low-pollution projects like natural-gas separation plants can be considered." Energy permanent secretary Pornchai Rujiprapha said he believed it would be difficult to build more power plants under the National Environmental Board's requirements, because both coal- and gas-fired power plants would definitely spew more pollution. He said Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont was in favour of shifting investment to the deep South to help pull the region out of violence.
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