Petition to freeze 35 petrochemical projects planned for Map Ta Phut and Ban Chang in Rayong

13-Mar-09

The Lawyers Council of Thailand and the Environmental Network plan to petition the Central Administrative Court to freeze 35 petrochemical projects planned for Map Ta Phut and Ban Chang in Rayong. The main reason for this is the environmental-impact assessments (EIAs) of these projects had not yet been sanctioned by an independent environmental and health body. The EIAs of the projects, worth more than Bt100 billion and part of the third phase of the national petrochemical-development plan, has been endorsed only by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning, the National Environmental Board and the Industry, Interior and Energy ministries. But final approval must come from an independent environmental and health organisation, which will consist of representatives of educational institutions and civic groups, as well as environmentalists, before construction on any of the projects can start