Protesters threaten to approach court if oil-exploration projects are not scrapped; Locals fear any offshore mishap could have a long-term impact on environment and tourism
There seems to be no end in sight for the conflict between the residents of Koh Samui and oil exploration companies, as the protesters plan to take their concerns to the Administrative Court if all drilling projects are not terminated.
The residents, with backing from non-governmental organisations and local authorities, fear devastation of the resort island's tourism industry from the drilling activities, following British Petroleum's oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico.
The energy industry is accusing them of stirring up public resistance as a pretext to extract financial aid. They also claim that ever since exploration was allowed in the Gulf of Thailand, there has been no occurrence of accidental leakage. Every day, 2.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas, 78,000 barrels of condensate and 130,000 barrels of crude oil are pumped up from 28 oil fields in the Gulf.
"We want no compensation or fund. We don't want oil rigs near Koh Samui as possible damage like what we experienced from the Gulf of Mexico is difficult to be undone. You earn a lump sum from oil drilling, but earnings from tourism are forever. Over 150,000 people come here to work in the tourism business and send money home. Where does the oil money go?" asked Bannasat Ruangjan, president of the Koh Samui Tourism Association.
The locals submitted a complaint to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on July 20, demanding that all drilling operators complete an environmental impact assessment with the participation of all parties including the community and tourism businesses.
Samui Mayor Ramnet Jaikwang, who leads the Gulf of Thailand protectors network, earlier said that if there were no satisfactory result on Thursday, the locals would appeal for an injunction from the Administrative Court.
Since the nearest oil rig is only 42 kilometres off the island, which is designated as a tourist destination, it is impossible to promote eco-tourism and oil exploration, he said.
Srisuwan Janya, president of the Stop Global Warming Association, who successfully sought an injunction against 76 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut, was the adviser of this group.
"We'll definitely take the case to court," Srisuwan said.
"The Stop Global Warming Association will be the first plaintiff and the locals the second, and the four companies will be named the defendants. Tourism and environment impacts will be the highlights of our case, with examples from the Gulf of Mexico."
According to the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, under Article 67(2) of the Constitution, the four petroleum drilling projects are not required to complete health impact assessments, as they are not included on the list of activities deemed harmful to the environment.
Of the four controversial projects, NuCoastal's G5/50 block is 42km off Samui, Salamander's B8/38 is 78km away, Chevron's G4/50 95km and Pearl Oil's G6/48 110km.
Bannasat complained that NuCoastal's two public hearings did not take into account health or environmental issues. At the first public hearing, asked if drilling, at 9,000 feet, would cause turgidity and interfere with deep-sea diving, they insisted that their technology was perfect and that there would be no muddy water. They said they would avoid areas with coral reefs.
"This is possible? It's hardly possible. The second hearing (on July 7) thus failed to win our support," he said. He was also concerned that if oil is found, a jetty will be built to ship equipment.
The protest had been going on even before the BP disaster, but the catastrophe in the Gulf of Mexico helps paint a clearer picture of the possible impacts, he said. All parties in Samui joined the move, including the administrative bodies in Samui, Koh Pha-Ngan and Koh Tao, the Surat Thani Chamber of Commerce, Thai Hotel Association and several tourist associations.
Despite the opposition, NuCoastal executives are still committed to proceeding with the project. NuCoastal held a media familiarisation trip to its block in Songkhla on July 30, which it started drilling on in February last year, to show its safety measures.
Chevron's executives yesterday also hosted a media discussion in Nakhon Si Thammarat, to unveil their study and plans to handle emergencies. They insisted that the study covered all angles, and Chevron promised the least impact and the best interest for locals. They also highlighted community and cultural plans for Samui.
Chevron's public hearing, part of its EIA, is slated for Thursday.