Ban Chang improvements

[chrisandsu]

Just a bit of positivity -Been going to to ban Chang for close to ten years now and every year I see improvements . The roads are much better and many resurfaced , the airport is very close (utapho) , the train from Bangkok is not far off completed ! The infrastructure improvements have been huge ! I live on the west coast of America and see next to no improvements at this rate . I bought a house as a wild guess years ago and have come to really love the place . Has a reasonable night life and close to nearly everything you could possibly want (Pattaya, malls, nice beaches,) the locals are not dependent on tourist money so seem a lot more genuine and happy . Hail to the continuous improvements ????

[scubascuba3]

The main bar street has been going through a slow painful death for years, as of a couple of months ago, no change there

[petermik]

7 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

The main bar street has been going through a slow painful death for years, as of a couple of months ago, no change there

I was there last week and a couple of new bars had opened up...the old Camel pub/restaurant for one and across the road the "Outback Bar"....plenty of smiling ladies also (as many as I,ve seen for the past couple of years or so)......let,s hope the "Strip" is on the up and up

[huangnon]

^The Camel has not re-opened. The 1st shophouse that used to be the Camel Shop has opened, -as another generic beer bar only.

 

Tbh, most of the "Strip" is an eyesore and could do with condensing into one block, or moving elsewhere. Banchang doesn't need it anymore.

[longball53098]

Bars closing and 7-11 moving in. Big C Mini coming too,,,,,,,,,,all the bars will be gone soon

[chrisandsu]

To be fair I’m not really into bars . The worlds changing , pubs are dying everywhere . I don’t know why a few of you guys don’t set up a expat cycling club ? The roads are pretty flat and You get to socialise without killing yourself (guess that’s easier said then done with the drivers here ????) plus the women in the girly bars seems to get older and uglier every year ! 

[LennyW]

The entertainment establishments on the bypass road is where all the fit ladies hang out!!, 55, Hey Mom, La Luan etc, plus decent eateries and coffee shops on the same road, that is where the night time action is these days.

 

[chrisandsu]

4 minutes ago, LennyW said:

The entertainment establishments on the bypass road is where all the fit ladies hang out!!, 55, Hey Mom, La Luan etc, plus decent eateries and coffee shops on the same road, that is where the night time action is these days.

 

That’s where I go normally . Have not been to the strip in years . Decent live bands , I like Thai food , and the people tend to be happy . I can’t deal with sitting around sour faced people who have nothing better to do all day then moan ????

[scubascuba3]

To be fair I’m not really into bars . The worlds changing , pubs are dying everywhere . I don’t know why a few of you guys don’t set up a expat cycling club ? The roads are pretty flat and You get to socialise without killing yourself (guess that’s easier said then done with the drivers here [emoji23]) plus the women in the girly bars seems to get older and uglier every year ! 

there are expat cycling clubs, we sometimes go through ban chang

[overherebc]

4 hours ago, chrisandsu said:

To be fair I’m not really into bars . The worlds changing , pubs are dying everywhere . I don’t know why a few of you guys don’t set up a expat cycling club ? The roads are pretty flat and You get to socialise without killing yourself (guess that’s easier said then done with the drivers here ????) plus the women in the girly bars seems to get older and uglier every year ! 

You said yourself. It's not yourself that's going to kill you.

[wilcopops]

The improvements to infrastructure are a result of the massive industrial expansion that is already started in the area....yet the resulting pollution is still almost completely ignored.

[huangnon]

^There isn't much expansion available in the Maptaphut area now. The new infrastructure is just to connect the existing industrial plants with Chonburi, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, etc.

[steve187]

On 1/17/2019 at 9:36 AM, chrisandsu said:

the train from Bangkok is not far off completed

a bit more info on the train to ban chang would be nice, 1st i have heard of it. tesco road to Phala has a few more eating and drinking places between the by pass and the roundabout.

[overherebc]

On 1/18/2019 at 10:09 AM, chrisandsu said:

That’s where I go normally . Have not been to the strip in years . Decent live bands , I like Thai food , and the people tend to be happy . I can’t deal with sitting around sour faced people who have nothing better to do all day then moan ????

One of the reasons they look so miserable is they don't want to leave as they know they will be talked about by those left in the bar.

My favourite way was to just say 'bill please I'm leaving so everyone can talk about me'

????????

[Toosetinmyways]

Shock horror today in Ban Chang. 

A bar has reopened. As a bar no. As a ................7/11

The new in place will be the tables outside the 7/11 in the street of dreams.

[longball53098]

21 hours ago, Toosetinmyways said:

Shock horror today in Ban Chang. 

A bar has reopened. As a bar no. As a ................7/11

The new in place will be the tables outside the 7/11 in the street of dreams.

And soon a Big C Mini will replace 2 bars

[wilcopops]

On 1/22/2019 at 11:54 AM, huangnon said:

^There isn't much expansion available in the Maptaphut area now. The new infrastructure is just to connect the existing industrial plants with Chonburi, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, etc.

Map Ta Phut and the whole region is is for MASSIVE industrial expansion. Just check out the progress of the EEC - Easrtern Economic corridor of which Ban Chang is right in the middle.

why do you think they are building roads and railways to the region and digging out a deep sea port?

[huangnon]

^Other than some new power plants, I don't know of any new major Petrochem plants being planned or constructed for this region? I thought the EEC was proposed to upgrade transport between the existing units only.. Please update if you have more info.

[chrisandsu]

5 minutes ago, huangnon said:

^Other than some new power plants, I don't know of any new major Petrochem plants being planned or constructed for this region? I thought the EEC was proposed to upgrade transport between the existing units only.. Please update if you have more info.

There is massive warehouses being built just outside of Ban chang (have to forgive me I don’t know the road) petro is a thing of the past so I doubt more will be built . Rayong is a powerhouse in Thailand . This is where the money will be long after the tourism cow has been milked .

[wilcopops]

On 1/29/2019 at 9:12 AM, huangnon said:

^Other than some new power plants, I don't know of any new major Petrochem plants being planned or constructed for this region? I thought the EEC was proposed to upgrade transport between the existing units only.. Please update if you have more info.

You're in for a nasty shock then. 

They re building deep sea port facilities and increasing the capacity for oil imports all so that companies like PTT can increase capacity.

v. - https://www.fleetmon.com/maritime-news/2018/24353/map-ta-phut-industrial-port-thailand-entering-phas/

"

Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Phase III will see enhancements to existing infrastructure to better facilitate shipment of natural gas and raw fluid material for the petrochemical industry. "

https://www.eeco.or.th/en/project/infrastructure-development/map-ta-phut-port

[wilcopops]

On 1/29/2019 at 9:21 AM, chrisandsu said:

There is massive warehouses being built just outside of Ban chang (have to forgive me I don’t know the road) petro is a thing of the past so I doubt more will be built . Rayong is a powerhouse in Thailand . This is where the money will be long after the tourism cow has been milked .

Petro is by no means a thing of the past - PPT has vast volatile plants and Dow chemicals and others have plant there in Ban Chang itself. The need for plastics is leading to expansion in all the petrochemical induces there. note the post above.

 

"

Project Objectives 

• To increase the capacity of natural gas and raw fluid material shipments for the petrochemical industry. Upon completion, the seaport will be able to accept 19 million additional tons of cargo (petrochemicals and natural gas) within 20 years."

[wilcopops]

                                   Here are some expansions announced just recently in Rayong/Chonburi  - No Petrochemicals? You've got to be joking!

 

Map Tha Put etc…….

It should also be noted that there ae already large areas of empty land with grid-road access already in place North and East of Map Tha put reay for building of plant and factories. 

Note also Asia Industrial Estate which is partly on Ban Chang already.”

 

The EEC - The EEC straddles three eastern provinces of Thailand – Chonburi, Rayong, and Chachoengsao – off the coast of the Gulf of Thailand and spans a total of 13,285 square kilometers. The government hopes to complete the EEC by 2021, turning these provinces into a hub for technological manufacturing and services with strong connectivity to its ASEAN neighbors by land, sea and air

https://www.aseanbriefing.com/news/2018/06/29/thailand-eastern-economic-corridor.html

 

 Map Ta Phutindustrial area would quickly grow and today it houses five industrial estates, one deep-sea port, and 151 major factories, including petrochemical plants, oil refineries, coal-fired power stations, and iron and steel facilities. 

 

Specific Commodities

Steel
Coal
Iron ore
Manufactured Products
Chemical products

 

The government has approved 13 billion bahts (around USD416 million) for the expansion of Map Ta Phut. The expansion of the deep port will use 1000 additional rais (160 hectares). The new industrial zone will expand 1500 rais (240 hectares)   In 2017, the World Resources Institute denounced that “Map Ta Phut is one of the Thailand’s most toxic hot spots with a well-documented history of air and water pollution, industrial accidents, illegal hazardous waste dumping, and pollution-related health impacts including cancer and birth deformities”, according to a report released by the organization
Project Area (in hectares)	16,600
Level of Investment (in USD)	415,870,000

https://ejatlas.org/print/maptaphut-conflict

 

This should smell nice!!

“The Rubber Authority of Thailand (RAOT) has mapped out a masterplan to increase annual rubber exports from Bt250 billion to Bt800 billion, while establishing a rubber industrial estate in Rayong province, part of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC).” - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Economy/30362230

 

A new refinery…

Fluor, in a joint venture with Raytheon Engineers and Constructors, designed and built a $2.2 billion grassroots refinery for the Rayong Refinery Company (Rayong), a joint venture of Petroleum Authority of Thailand, the Thai National Oil Company, and Shell International.

-      https://www.fluor.com/projects/rayong-refinery-construction    

 

 in Sri Racha and existing refinery is to be expanded……

https://www.petrofac.com/en-gb/media/news/petrofacsaipemsamsung-consortium-awarded-refinery-project-in-thailand/

19 October 2018

Petrofac/Saipem/Samsung consortium awarded refinery project in Thailand

“The project will transform the existing oil refinery in Sriracha, Chonburi, into an environmentally-friendly facility, which will produce higher quality transportation fuels. The project will also increase the refinery’s production capacity from 275,000 barrels per day to 400,000 barrels per day.” 

 

That’s a “cracker”!!!

Map Ta Phut Olefins lets contract for cracker debottlenecking, expansion

https://www.ogj.com/articles/2018/10/map-ta-phut-olefins-lets-contract-for-cracker-debottlenecking-expansion.html

 

TOYO Awarded Olefin Expansion Project in ThailandJul. 19, 2018

This project intends to increase the annual olefin production capacity of existing plant by 350,000 tons from current capacity of 1,700,000 tons (900,000 tons of ethylene and 800,000 tons of propylene). The plant is to be constructed adjacent to MOC’s existing olefin plant in Map Ta Phut, Rayong, Thailand and scheduled for completion in 2021.

https://www.toyo-eng.com/jp/en/company/news/?n=465

 

...and. map of the targeted region.........

 

 

[wilcopops]

OP - "the locals are not dependent on tourist money" - that would be correct - Amata City  Industries alone clam to have a "community" of 300.000 people. This doesn't include MTP or any of the other industrial complexes.....or the potential influx that will be required to service the EEC expansion.

[huangnon]

^Check your sources. The "new refinery" has been built and operating nearly 25 years now. The other projects are just expansions or 'de-bottlenecking' existing plants and deep sea port facilities that have never really attained projected capacity anyway, mainly due to poor construction; especially the newer PTT plants.

[wilcopops]

Yes you’re quite right, I shouldn’t have included the Rayong refinery. It was last expanded in 2012 and any future expansion is still under wraps. They will of course benefit from the increased crude unloading facilities.

Lets hope it doesn’t all land on Koh Samet again.

 

However embarrassing as that may be, it doesn’t alter the argument one iota and all the others though are currently appropriate..

 

Here are some more……

 

(there are many can’t be included as they are on sources not publishable on TV site)

 

Here is the EEC’s own promotional video, which is quite disturbing in itself. It tells of expansion plans at MTP and petrochemicals....

https://youtu.be/mcYgUSuA1Ao

 

They now have powers to buy, and even compulsorily purchase land for development and are able to speed up and bypass normal government checks and balance on areas such as planning and environmental impact.

(See the image below)

 

 

Rayong port is one of 3 to be expanded (1000 rai plot) – the other 2 being Laem Chabang (already huge) and Sattahip….. as you can see it will be used for  expanded import of petrochemicals 

“Map Ta Phut Industrial Port, Phase 3, in Rayong will help expand imports of raw materials for the petrochemical industry and bio-economy.” - http://thailand.prd.go.th/ewt_news.php?nid=5524&filename=index

 

“Pre-existing problems

…… environmental engineering expert  Arpa Wangkiat, ….. raised concerns over chronic pollution and environmental problems from existing industries in the region, saying that weak environmental protection measures and many legal exemptions  ……….

 “The most vivid example is at Rayong’s Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate, as pollution from the petrochemical industry is still not properly monitored and controlled, and chemical leaks and accidents still commonly occur.”  - http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30339654

 

Along with expansion on Sattahip as a port and industry the local Utapao airport is also to be expanded and include a commercial zone. - https://www.eeco.or.th/en/project/infrastructure-development/u-tapao-airport

Wonder if they will have special silent planes for take-off and landing?

 

“EEC policy committee announced on Friday the establishment of the Smart Park Industrial Estate in an area of 1,466 rai (235 hectares) within the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate to host promoted industries within the EEC.– Nation Feb 26 2018

 

 

[wilcopops]

I think property "owners" in the region the development is a double edged sword......house/condo prices near industry will improve regardless of pollution as 100s of thousands of workers need accommodation..... however, one has to beware of over supply and the potential health hazards of living in the region. Location location location....

Most of the higher paid workers like to buy houses well away from the Industrial estates to avoid the general pollution and the frequent clouds resulting from fires and other industrial mishaps.

one thing is sure though, its going to get a lot more crowded.

[chrisandsu]

11 minutes ago, wilcopops said:

I think property "owners" in the region the development is a double edged sword......house/condo prices near industry will improve regardless of pollution as 100s of thousands of workers need accommodation..... however, one has to beware of over supply and the potential health hazards of living in the region. Location location location....

Most of the higher paid workers like to buy houses well away from the Industrial estates to avoid the general pollution and the frequent clouds resulting from fires and other industrial mishaps.

one thing is sure though, its going to get a lot more crowded.

Maybe we should all

move to Bangkok ...

[LennyW]

1 hour ago, chrisandsu said:

Maybe we should all

move to Bangkok ...

Or Banchang!! LOL

[chrisandsu]

28 minutes ago, LennyW said:

Or Banchang!! LOL

I can only handle the smog seasonally ????

[wilcopops]

2 hours ago, chrisandsu said:

Maybe we should all

move to Bangkok ...

Give it time BKK will come to you, the BKK conurbation will extend to Ban Chang