Two unauthorized aluminium plants believed to be owned by a Chinese investor in the central Thai provinces of Pathum Thani and Samut Sakhon were raided by the police on August 11 and 12. The plants were suspected of negatively affecting human health and the environment. The raids were initiated after the police discovered a harmful byproduct from aluminium processing known as aluminium dross on a truck.

 

The Nakhon Pathom Provincial Highway Police discovered the aluminium dross, which can be a serious health and environmental risk. The driver of the truck could not provide the necessary documents to transport it. The dross can contaminate both air and water near factories, potentially causing respiratory problems in humans and animals if inhaled, damaging water quality and harming aquatic life, according to ThaiRath.

 

The truck driver revealed that he had picked up loads of aluminium dross from the Perm Poon Sub plant in Nakhon Pathom to deliver to another plant, the Taipao Aluminium plant in Samut Sakhon Province. This led to the involvement of the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Division (GreenCop), who first raided the Perm Poon Sub plant on August 11.

 

At the raid of the plant, police found two warehouses on a 9,600-square-meter plot of land. Manot Kritsana, a Thai man claiming to be the caretaker, told the police that the plant was owned by a Chinese investor and operated without a license. Aluminium dross was transported to the plant twice a day, with each shipment weighing around 10 tonnes. A total of 12,387 tonnes of aluminium dross were stored in 8,258 big bags at the time of the raid. The area was sealed off until further investigation occurred.

 

A subsequent raid at the Taipao Aluminium plant on August 12 discovered 2,100 tonnes of aluminium dross in 1,400 bags. No one was initially present, but the plant's alleged caretaker eventually reached out to the police.

 

The authorities are actively identifying the Thai and Chinese individuals involved in the unlawful operations. They are being summoned for handling and processing hazardous materials without authorization.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-08-13

 

- Cigna offers a variety of health insurance plans designed to meet the minimum requirement for medical treatment coverage, with benefits reaching up to THB 3 million. These plans are tailored to provide comprehensive healthcare solutions for expatriates, ensuring peace of mind and access to quality medical services. To explore the full range of Cigna's expat health insurance options and find a plan that suits your needs, click here for more information.

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

How do unauthorised plants open and trade under the noses of local officials and RTP who witness daily what businesses are doing?

I’m sure it’s just the tip of the iceberg. 

49 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

How do unauthorised plants open and trade under the noses of local officials and RTP who witness daily what businesses are doing?

HEhe that is simple when you have a handful of brown envelopes. 

58 minutes ago, thesetat2013 said:

HEhe that is simple when you have a handful of brown envelopes. 

I thought that as well....

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

.......but the plant's alleged caretaker eventually reached out to the police.

The long-arm of the law in reverse.

 

Aluminum dross is, usually, the residue from the smelting to produce ingots of the metal. It appears the dross processing plants were also producing ingots which implies the initial smelting process was inefficient. Both plants must have a huge electricity bill!

1 hour ago, PETERTHEEATER said:

The long-arm of the law in reverse.

 

Aluminum dross is, usually, the residue from the smelting to produce ingots of the metal. It appears the dross processing plants were also producing ingots which implies the initial smelting process was inefficient. Both plants must have a huge electricity bill!

Are they getting free electricity?