Map Ta Phut's Industrial Peace Spreads Scg, Siam City Cement In Major Community Programme

CEMENTMAKERS' INITIATIVE

Map Ta Phut's industrial peace spreads SCG, Siam City Cement in major community programme

Nalin Viboonchart

The Nation

The concept of the Community Partnership Association, which has played a leading roll in achieving harmony between the industries of the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate and surrounding communities, is being adopted elsewhere in the country by Thailand's cement manufacturers.

Two leading cement makers, SCG Cement and Siam City Cement, and the Thai Cement Manufacturers' Association (TCMA) are collaborating in what they call the Rong poon ruk chum chon initiative, aimed at creating a truly environmentallyfriendly cement industry and lifting the living standards of people in communities near cement plants.

The initiative has already been launched in Saraburi province, where both SCG and Siam City Cement have plants.

TCMA chairman and SCG Cement president Pramote Techasupatkul said the Rong poon ruk chum chon initiative had adopted the concept of the Community Partnership Association, which aimed to improve production technology so as to reduce the impact of industries on the environment and to promote friendly relationships with local villagers.

The five founders of the Community Partnership Association are PTT, Siam Cement Group (SCG), Dow Chemical, BLCP Power and Glow Energy. All have industrial operations at Map Ta Phut.

"The concept of the Community Partnership Association is good. If we truly want industries in Thailand to be green, then we should imitate such a project and do it seriously in other industrial areas. The cement industry must not be a problem for Saraburi's communities," he said.

Under the initiative, each cement plant has committed to continually adopting advanced technology into its operations so that it will emit as little pollution and dust into the atmosphere as possible.

-- The Nation 2011-10-02