Villagers protest against power plants
Written by Writer on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
ENVIRONMENT
Villagers protest against power plants
Villagers likely to be affected by four proposed power plants staged a series of protests yesterday at the US and German embassies and outside a Japanese energy firm in Bangkok.
The protesters demanded trans-national companies withdraw their investments from the controversial projects.
About 50 villagers from Chachoengsao, Saraburi, Ayutthaya and Rayong provinces are fighting the multi-billion-baht developments.
The four projects, which will sell electricity to the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), include two coal-fired power plants in Chachoengsao and Rayong provinces and two natural gas-fired power plants in Chachoengsao and Saraburi provinces.
The Khao Hin Son coal-fired power plant project in Chachoengsao is a co-investment between Thai firm Kaset Rungruang Peudphol and US company CMS Co Ltd.
The Gheco-One coal-fired power plant in Rayong is a joint venture between the Glow Group and Hemaraj Land and Development. It has been reported that a German bank has granted a loan to the project’s developer.
Bang Kla and Nongsang natural gas-fired power plants are to be developed by J-Power and Gulf Electric Co. The plants are located in Chachoengsao and Saraburi, respectively.
Of the four projects, only Gheco-One has had its environmental impact assessment (EIA) report approved by the National Environment Board, while the other three projects are awaiting EIA approval.
The protesters said they did not want the projects in their communities as they feared environmental impacts, particularly air and water pollution.
They also suspected irregularities in Egat’s IPP bidding process.
“We will fight together to pressure Egat to reveal the contracts signed with these power plant developers,” said Suthi Atchasai, coordinator of the Eastern People Network.
In a letter submitted to J-Power yesterday, Tee Trarattasangmanee, chairman of the Network of Agriculture Protection opposing the Nongsang power plant in Saraburi, said more than 2,000 farmers could be affected by pollution from the project.
“You [J-Power] are about to participate in the destruction of one of Thailand’s most important rice bowl and agricultural areas,” he said.
The local leader added that the Nongsang power plant will take water away from farmland.
To maintain its operations, the plant will need 64,400 cubic metres of water a day. This amount could nourish as much as 60 rai of farmland a day.
The Pad Riew Conservation Network said more than 12,400 Chachoengsao residents have signed their names to protest against the Bang Kla power plant.
In its letter to J-Power Thailand, the network said: “The proposed power plant is only 300 metres away from temples and schools. Pollution from the plant will affect people’s health.”
Bangkok Post
Tuesday October 28, 2008
