Nakhon Si Thammarat: Call to scrap Chevron project plan

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SPECIAL REPORT
Call to scrap Chevron project plan
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation


Hundreds of local villagers in Nakhon Si Thammarat

NAKHON SI TAMMARAT: -- Legal experts have called on the government to stop debating an environmental report for a cancelled shore-based construction project by Chevron Oil, saying it could lead to misunderstanding between state agencies and local communities in Nakhon Si Thammarat province.

Hundreds of local people in Tha Sa La district are threatening to escalate their protests against the project if the Independent Commission on Environment and Health (ICEH) approves the environmental and health impact assessment (EHIA) report for the project. Locals fear the project would have a negative affect on the local fishing industry.

Supaporn Malailoi, a legal expert and co-ordinator of Environmental Litigation and Advocacy for the Wants (EnLAW), said the ICEH should stop talking about the Chevron report as the company had already announced it would no longer go ahead with the project.

"The ICEH has nothing to do with this report as the oil company has already cancelled the project," she said.

This remark came after the commission began a first-round of debate about the EHIA report on the Chevron Thailand Exploration and Production project.

The proposal was for two main facilities - a deep-sea port and chemical storage site - to be built at Ban Bang Sarn in Tha Sala.

Local villagers are concerned that such facilities by the sea would affect fish stocks in Tha Sa La Sea, or "Golden Bay".

According to Article 67(2) of the Constitution, Chevron is required to conduct an EHIA report to ascertain the impact of the project on local health and the environment. It must then submit the report for considering by a panel of experts at the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP) and the ICEH, before it can get permission from the Marine Department.

In September last year, the ONEP gave a green light to the project's EHIA report without any consideration of the local community's concerns about the impact the project would have on local marine resources.

A few months later in December, Chevron announced its plans to cancel the project despite getting the go-ahead from the ONEP.

But instead of withdrawing the EHIA, Chevron allowed the ONEP to send it to the ICEH for consideration.

"The ONEP forwarded the EHIA report to the ICEH on July 27, 2013 to ensure compliance with the law," said Hathairat Atichart, manager of policy and public affairs at Chevron Thailand.

The report was not withdrawn from the ONEP after the announcement of the project's cessation because Chevron wanted the public to benefit from the report's information, covering potential health and environment impacts, and mitigation measures, Suppaporn said. But Chevron had no intention to use the report to obtain a construction permit.

But Suppaporn said to prove that the company had truly ended the project, it must withdraw its report, and its request to the Marine Department for permission to build the project.

Hathairat said Chevron had sent a letter to the ONEP to ask the ICEH to end its review. It is also in the process of returning the leased project site to its landowner.


-- The Nation 2013-08-26

[noitom]

Chevron couldn't take the hustle any longer.

[Soutpeel]

Chevron couldn't take the hustle any longer.

One susepcts the bluff was called...

Protestors originally protested expecting a "handout" to make the issues go away and make a quick buck

Project scappped

Protestors left standing... "hang on a minute we didnt get our cash"

Lets protest again cos we didnt get our cash...

Fact is perfectly good established ports already in Thailand to service offshore O&G, one suspects Nakon Si Thammarat was a nice to have, but not entirely neccesary...

Edited August 26, 2013 by Soutpeel

[Mampara]

So, what's wrong with the truth?

[cbluck58]

They have obviously heard about all the handouts that were doshed out by Unocal and Chevron down here in Songkhla and want some of the action.

I am no great fan of Chevron but have to say well done for pulling the plug and leaving them high and dry.

[drdoom6996]

So, what's wrong with the truth?

The Truth, TIT, who needs the <deleted>#$ing TRUTH!

[noitom]

We'll be seeing this more and more as foreign companies have enough of the Thai hustle and Mr. 20%s.

[Soutpeel]

We'll be seeing this more and more as foreign companies have enough of the Thai hustle and Mr. 20%s.

I dont think its a case of foreign companies getting fed up, its more to do with fact that big MNC's cant play that game anymore with the corporate goverance polices in place in almost all MNC's, certainly where the head offices are in western countries...

The days of brief cases of cash being handed over to goverment officialsetc are pretty much long gone