A representative of Ministry of Energy has confirmed that oil drill projects around the islands will begin its exploration process in April 2013. Nearest point from Samui's shore is less than 40 kms, 36.7 kms from Koh Phagan and less than 40 kms from Koh Tao.

The EIA report stated that the area that having risk possibility is Bo Phut and Maret in Koh Samui as well as Baan Tai in Koh Phangan. (you may follow my twitter @kaewsamui for more info and location map or visit www.nathoncity.com for updated news and movement).

It is our final call after a more than 3 years fighting through legal channel via Administrative Court and National Human Rights Commission. I would like to address this to all to help spreading words among friends.

The risk is out there and we all can help.

There is a risk to any project but all care and safeguards will be in place. Thailand is in need of new gas and oil discoveries.

The risk is every where in every projects, it is so true. Please note that we have never say "we do not want energy" but the process on public hearing with local community is not transparent. This is the main reason that we have to put a high alert on this and filed report. This is a part of the EIA process (which I believe you may aware of this).a

Many lessons to learn around the globe already.

There is a risk to any project but all care and safeguards will be in place. Thailand is in need of new gas and oil discoveries.

The risk of something going wrong is, imo, much higher in Thailand where they like to cut corners and reduce costs.

Seeing oil spills on Samui beaches in my imagination already.

I have to agree with the poster above on the matter, also Thailand still wants to do nuclear power as well.

One question that no one can ever answer is there any other tourism islands in the world that have oil and gas rigs nearby?

Just look at the Gulf of Mexico a few years back, how close to rigs need to be?

I like Samui, but I don't rate my enjoyment of the beach as more important than the economy of a developing nation.

Koh Tao can say good bye to its scuba diving economy, way to go Thailand.

What's more valuable, oil or tourism?

There will be more money in the oil unfortunately but at what price to the eco system of the Gulf in case something goes wrong?

They have been drilling in the gulf for years.

One question that no one can ever answer is there any other tourism islands in the world that have oil and gas rigs nearby?

Almost. http://hk.asia-city.com/hong-kong-venue/power-station-beach

Interesting stuff in theis threat.

What is more valuable ? Tourism or Oil ???

... Give the answer to your kids in 10 years. They might come up with the idea that the environment is way more valuable. [As soon as it's gone anyway].

Why would Thailand need to drill for oil and gas ? Because the powers that are WANT this ... and we are stupid enough to believe this BS !!!

We are now sacrificing the world our kids and grandkids will have to live in ! For a lost corse of a failed economical system ... just because we are to lazy to use our brains !

So, let's be ignorant and go back to our TV's have a cold beer and make it all nice and funny ... the future is very bright.

Why would Thailand need to drill for oil and gas ? Because the powers that are WANT this ... and we are stupid enough to believe this BS !!!

What an ignorant statement! Thailand is a sovereign nation and can do precisely as it pleases. I respect that.

The oil and gas found within their land and oceanic borders belongs to Thailand and no one else.

It's their own resources they will be digging up, not yours.

They will have to deal with any consequences as a result, if and when they may arise, not you.

As an Australian, I could have a crack at the Thai's for this decision but that would be akin to me throwing stones from my glass house.

It is correct (again) that they have been drilling in the gulf for years but this time is way to close to tourist destination i.e. less than 40 kilometres (see the map attached)

Samui, Phangan,Tao would have not been existed today for us to compliment its beauty if our ancestors do not take great care the area. Keep it for our future generations.

I guess regardless of whats said the only important area that always wins at the end of the day is money. Since oil and gas bring in more money than tourism, koh samui, koh phangan can kiss tourism goodbye.

No worries though the people who like the old samui can enjoy it as nothing will be here expect for oil and gas rigs in front of the islands. Also everyone will celebrate as bangkok airways will no longer operate samui as there is no tourism anymore

Koh Tao can say good bye to its scuba diving economy, way to go Thailand.

diving in the gulf of mexico off rigs is great, they become reefs. It is like having a vertical reef full of fish and just about impossible for the commerial fishermen to run nets thru.

I guess regardless of whats said the only important area that always wins at the end of the day is money. Since oil and gas bring in more money than tourism, koh samui, koh phangan can kiss tourism goodbye. No worries though the people who like the old samui can enjoy it as nothing will be here expect for oil and gas rigs in front of the islands. Also everyone will celebrate as bangkok airways will no longer operate samui as there is no tourism anymore

a rig can be placed out of sight of all the islands here, and they can still tap into all the oil and gas here, There is a lot of new technology that will make this possible like directional drilling.

I guess regardless of whats said the only important area that always wins at the end of the day is money. Since oil and gas bring in more money than tourism, koh samui, koh phangan can kiss tourism goodbye. No worries though the people who like the old samui can enjoy it as nothing will be here expect for oil and gas rigs in front of the islands. Also everyone will celebrate as bangkok airways will no longer operate samui as there is no tourism anymore

a rig can be placed out of sight of all the islands here, and they can still tap into all the oil and gas here, There is a lot of new technology that will make this possible like directional drilling.

If you were standing on the beach then the curvature of the Earth would hide a 100' high oil rig 12 miles distant.

http://www.boatsafe.com/tools/horizon.htm

OK in our hearts, we all want to be tree huggers.

However, cut the electricity for 3 days (December 2012), get crxppy download response from your ISP, go to fill up the gas guzzler and - whoa empty!

Then - every one of us will be bitching.

So - WE all need gas/oil to keep us happy.

Import it - or do it ourselves?

Sorry - Thailand - go for it.

You can bleat all you like about the 'legacy for our great grandchildren' - and I would be more sympathetic if you all gave up your smartphones/facebook/twitter etc and start to live The Good Life (Felicity Kendall/Richard Briars)

It seems to me that this is a 'not in my back yard' scenario.

We are what we do - not what we say.

We don't need that much gas, there are alternatives out there but the gas and oil industry doesn't want us to know about them let alone use them until the last drop gas and oil has been sucked out of the earth.

there are alternatives out there

There are indeed but none of them are economically viable with the possible exception of solar energy which would require investment far far beyond Thailand's means.

but the gas and oil industry doesn't want us to know about them

Please, do continue.

It's a bit hypocritical for the hippies to cry foul at thailand for wanting to develop independent fuel sources. Cheap energy would help to drive the Thai economy forward and allow growth in infrastruture, education, health and raise the standard of living for the whole country. As for the luddite mentality of the it will hurt Tourism. The ridiculous "green" taxes on flights hurt it much more along with the other taxes scammed in on the back of the "green" agenda.

The developments in Thorium nuclear energy by India and China can also pave the way to a cheap, safe energy supply. But of course the hippies want to live in caves and force everyone to do the same.

As for safety. talk to any of the guys who work in the industry. The "greens" bleat about damage to the environment conveniently forgetting the damage they caused with their misguided "bio-fuel" experiment.

Sorry hippies, as usual your hysterical response to progress shows your romantic hearts but at the expense of any common sense.

So how many of you want to go holiday on a island and have the ability to see out your window a large oil rig.

And While some one will put on this posting but its X amount of km away my post to that is its all about money period if they find large amounts of oil and gas reserves within 10km of samui you can bet a oil rig will be on its way.

As for safety, things are only as good as long as proper requirements are done and followed, the minute cutbacks, or no proper maintaince occurs safety might as well go out the window.

Why would Thailand need to drill for oil and gas ? Because the powers that are WANT this ... and we are stupid enough to believe this BS !!!

What an ignorant statement! Thailand is a sovereign nation and can do precisely as it pleases. I respect that.

The oil and gas found within their land and oceanic borders belongs to Thailand and no one else.

It's their own resources they will be digging up, not yours.

They will have to deal with any consequences as a result, if and when they may arise, not you.

As an Australian, I could have a crack at the Thai's for this decision but that would be akin to me throwing stones from my glass house.

No, this is extremely stupid !

The consequences out of this will NOT be only their problem but everybody's !!!

In your simple mind it is THEIR country and they can do anything they want ... that's fine for your small world.

In my world it's our planet and they cannot do anything that might harm me ! As a fact this is how it all should be.

Just because 99% of the brainwashed population believe in this insane thing called "growth" and "economy" doesn't make it just or right.

Sidenote:

As a simple fact "growth" and even worth "constant growth" are by far the worst thing that can happen to anything as

it always ends up in a disaster. All exponential things do ... and the economy or your way of living are no exception to mathematical facts.

The need for oil and gas is completely unnecessary taken into account the known patents for free energy that are all kept hidden from us

by Corporations and Governments [most of all the US Government who has pretty much all research from people like Tesla, Schauberger or Reich classified !!!]

This affects ALL of us in a very bad way and it affects our kids and grand kids even more as we are forced to destroy the planet they will have to live in.

.... but I guess it's better to go back to the cold beer and the TV for some more interesting football match or American Gladiators.

At least you will have the excuse later on that you didn't know any of this because of the lack of time and all the stress with all the cold beer and TV.

Hope this does not come back to all of us in a very bad way ... but it is a simple fact that all of the BS we do now WILL come back on us rather sooner than later !!!

Be sure of that !!! [And it will make no difference how much money anybody made out of this ... you cannot buy a healthy planet that supports a healthy life for it's inhabitants !!!]

That's me done in this threat. It's time to wake up and get some info on what is REALLY going on all around you !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9kpTvm6CYA

The need for oil and gas is completely unnecessary taken into account the known patents for free energy that are all kept hidden from us by Corporations and Governments [most of all the US Government who has pretty much all research from people like Tesla, Schauberger or Reich classified !!!]

"known patents for free energy that are all kept hidden from us"

If it's a known patent then how can it be hidden?

That's me done in this threat

That's a shame as I was looking forward to finding out how the moon landings were faked and how 911 was a CIA conspiracy

At Koh Samui:

Petition can be signed here

Songkhla is not to far down the coast a spill there would probably effect Samui, as stated its been going on for years in the gulf. for those who don't want a view of a rig which is unlikely any way how would the view of a wind farm go down. Myanmar will develop more and more, rapidly and need its own resources meaning less for Thailand.

http://www.offshore-technology.com/projects/songkhla-thailand/