After more than 200 oil spills in 50 years, here’s how Thailand can clean up its act

[webfact]

 

Two recent oil spills off Rayong province are just the latest in a long line of similar disasters in Thai seas. Records reveal that more than 200 oil spills have occurred over the past five decades, with little apparently being done to tighten regulations, restore the environment or compensate locals for the damage to their livelihoods. 

 

Now, experts are urging the government to shift the compensation burden from public funds onto the companies that cause the disasters. This could be done via mandatory environmental insurance and also an Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF) for businesses such as mines, petrochemical plants, ports handling hazardous goods, coal-fired power plants, oil refineries, and petroleum operations.

 

“If we adopt an EGF, government agencies will not have to dig into their own pockets to clean up oil slicks and compensate those [local people] affected,” said Sonthi Kotchawat, an independent expert on environmental health.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/after-more-than-200-oil-spills-in-50-years-heres-how-thailand-can-clean-up-its-act/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2022-02-12

 

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[Mr Meeseeks]

Awaiting the first ???? to tell us that oil spills happen everywhere in the World.

[metisdead]

A troll post using a trolling meme has been removed.

[jacko45k]

3 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Awaiting the first ???? to tell us that oil spills happen everywhere in the World.

Pretty sure I read one of those already!

[Chomper Higgot]

Repealing libel laws might help.

 

Suggesting oil pouring into the ocean from the outflow of an oil refinery is coming from the oil refinery risks criminal prosecution with attendant serious prison time and fines.

 

 

[hotchilli]

At least you can see oil... I hope they don't get into gas exploration.

[misterphil]

How about employing competent people to prevent a spill? ????

[Mr Meeseeks]

1 hour ago, hotchilli said:

At least you can see oil... I hope they don't get into gas exploration.

It's about 90% gas 10% oil here in Thailand now in terms of reserves.

[hotchilli]

18 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

It's about 90% gas 10% oil here in Thailand now in terms of reserves.

Now I understand the no smoking on the beaches.

[Thunglom]

rather than debating who gets compensation and who is responsible, maybe they should concentrate on STOPPING the repeated leaks from happening.

There are a lot of sensitive casual environments along the Rayong/Chantaburi coastline. the effects of oil slick continue long after the initial mess is cleaned up. The government should move quicker rather than passing the buck. Once they have started to prevent the damage, then they can try to get moneys of the companies concerned.......but the damage to the environment is oblivious to who is to blame.

[Thunglom]

22 hours ago, hotchilli said:

At least you can see oil... I hope they don't get into gas exploration.

Sadly the visual aspects are only the first part of the pollution. , dispersants and chemical redoes, oil in mangroves etc will continue to wash around on the tides for months even years to come. Damage on the coast stretches from the sea into the land.