The Office of the Attorney-General will today represent owners of suspended industrial projects in Map Ta Phut in seeking the Central Administrative Court's permission to resume operations, as most of the projects are not included in the National Environment Board's list of harmful activities.
The NEB list will be submitted to the court today, at the last hearing on the case against eight government units, to unlock the projects, Vice Minister for Industry Putthipong Punnakan said yesterday.
"Although the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry has not formally declared the list yet, the Office of the Attorney-General can submit the resolution to the court today for consideration. We expect the ministry to declare the list within a few days," he said.
He said operators of the halted projects that are not classified as harmful to the environment could submit details to the One Start One Stop Investment Centre (OSOS), which had been set up since the Map Ta Phut problem cropped up last September.
"Now the regulation for investment is clearer, so the Industry Ministry is confident of attracting foreigners to invest in Thailand. From now on, I be-lieve the investors will pay attention to running their business along with caring more for the communities and the environment," he said.
Putthipong added that although the Public Network in the East intended to demonstrate against the resolution, the current process had to be pursued according to the law. However, the network had the right to protest.
A legal official of PTT, who asked not to be named, said that if the Central Administrative Court today received the resolution and decided not to ask for more evidence, the Map Ta Phut case could end. If the court asked for more evidence, the case would be deferred. But PTT did not think that process would take long.
The source said that after the court approves the submission by the Office of the Attorney-General, PTT would submit details of three halted projects, including the sixth gas-separation plant, to the OSOS. If the court allows PTT to proceed with the projects, all could begin operations immediately.
Even if the People's Network in the East appeals to the court, the private sector will have the right to proceed with its activities, he said.
Stop Global Warming Association president Srisuwan Janya said he would submit more evidence to the court today to persuade it to maintain the injunction on the projects.
Vorapong Vorasuntharosoth of Dow Chemical Thailand, the partner of Siam Cement Group, said Dow would wait for the official declaration from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry before submitting proposals to the OSOS. Some of its co-investment projects such as the expansion of polyethylene capacity could start operations promptly if the court grants permission.