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Published on August 5, 2007

The Network of Eastern People for the Environment and local resident leader Suthi Atchasai expressed opposition to recent approval of the petroleum-industry development plan phase three for the province.

The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning made the approval. It allows for more gas-separation plants, an oil refinery and 19 petrochemical plants on 700 rai in the district. The area will be called the Asia Industrial Estate.

Residents said approval was against a previous commitment by the Industry Ministry against further development and a declaration of the area as a "yellow zone" for residential and commercial development only.

But the zone was changed to "purple" for industrial development. Residents were not consulted, they said.

"Villagers in the Ban Chang area know nothing of the approval," Suthi said.

Suthi accused board chairman Deputy Prime Minister and Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras of conflict of interest in making the approval.

"Kosit is a former chairman of Bangkok Bank and remains an adviser to it. The owner of the 700-rai estate area is Bangkok Bank," he alleged.

"Earlier mathematical models revealed Map Ta Phut could no longer bear further pollution, and this led to a freeze on petrochemical development in the area.

"This government ordered new models, which have yet to reach any conclusion about pollution capacity. How did it approve development while waiting for these conclusions?" he said.

"This government is temporary. It should not make such big decisions which risk the lives of millions of people," Suthi added.

Sirinart Sirisunthorn

The Nation