Transport Ministry mulls revival of Pak Bara and Songkhla deep-sea port projects

[webfact]

Transport Ministry mulls revival of Pak Bara and Songkhla deep-sea port projects

 

 

The Transport Ministry is considering reviving the Pak Bara deep-sea port project, in Thailand’s southernmost border province of Satun, and the Songkhla deep-sea port project in Songkhla province. Both have been shelved for several years due to strong protests by local people and environment groups.

 

Transport Minister Saksayam Chidchob said he has assigned the Marine Department to revive the two infrastructure projects, beginning by approaching the people in the two provinces to convince them of the need for the development, which will benefit their localities and the country as a whole.

 

Feasibility studies of the two projects are already available, but additional environment impact assessments may be required to convince opponents of the projects.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/transport-ministry-mulls-revival-of-pak-bara-and-songkhla-deep-sea-port-projects/

 

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2019-12-03

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[keith101]

Still trying to make a name for himself but mostly unsuccessful so far I think other than coming up with redundant ideas .

[Stocky]

51 minutes ago, keith101 said:

with redundant ideas

It's never redundant, King Narai first proposed the idea of a canal back in 1677, and the idea has resurfaced many times since, though containerisation has made the canal unnecessary. Better a land bridge with a rail link connection the two ports to allow containers to pass from one coast to the other. The envisaged development sometimes includes large oil storage facilities either end and a pipeline linking the two. China has expressed an interest in the scheme as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

 

Obviously the elephant in the room is Singapore, which sees the development as a threat.

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, Stocky said:

China has expressed an interest in the scheme as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Hence the revival in interest... deep sea port for the Chinese to exploit!

Just look at Cambodia among others to see what a deep sea port actually ends up being.

 

[Redline]

A nice place to dock Chinese ships

[Srikcir]

On 12/3/2019 at 2:34 PM, webfact said:

but additional environment impact assessments may be required to convince opponents of the projects.

These "opponents" are also 'stakeholders' in the form of locals who would be affected by the project.

• "The project was in the process of gathering opinions from all stakeholders when resistance from local people and non-governmental organizations emerged, forcing the suspension of public hearings."

Seems the government wanted to leave the local people last in gathering opinions, assuming it even intended to query their opinions.