Marine Dept seeks Bt9.6 billion

The Marine Department has requested a five-year construction budget of Bt9.585 billion for the Pak Bara Deep Sea Port project, work on which is due to begin next year once protests by local residents have been resolved.

Located on the Andaman Sea coast of Satun province, the port is intended to serve as a hub connecting China, India and Europe.

Tawanrat Onsira, director-general of the department, said the budget proposal would be submitted to the Transport Ministry. The first phase will cost Bt9.58 billion in total. The cost will be Bt1.9 billion in the first fiscal year of the project, 2013, and Bt1.597 billion for each subsequent year from 2014 to 2017. For the final year, 2018 the cost will be Bt1.297 billion.

In addition, the department will require Bt79 million over the next two years to conduct a feasibility study and environmental impact assessment. Tawanrat said Pak Bara Deep Sea Port would have facilities for ships of 50,000-70,000 Dead Weight Tonnes. The first phase will cover 750 metres of quay berth with loading cranes placed along the entire length. A berth of 220 metres is required to dock a ship of 825,000 TUE (twenty foot-equivalent container units).

Exported goods to benefit from this port include rubber products, rubber timber and rubber-timber products, rice, assorted grains, sugar, imported industrial materials, seafood, metal and fertiliser. The port will serve as a gateway to connect the south of China to India and Europe without passing through the congested Malacca Strait.

The project is under consideration for approval by the Cabinet. The Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning first agreed to prepare an environmental impact study on June 16, 2009. However, the project met with objections from the local community and was temporarily terminated on March 8 last year.