NRC's Rosana to visit drill site in the Northeast

[Lite Beer]

NRC's Rosana to visit drill site in the Northeast
CHULARAT SAENGPASSA
THE NATION

KHON KAEN: -- A NATIONAL Reform Council (NRC) committee will today visit Ban Na Mun in Khon Kaen province to listen to locals' thoughts on an oil and gas drill exploration operation being set up near their neighbourhood.

Rosana Tositrakul, from the NRC committee on energy, will inspect the village in Tambon Dun Sad, Kranuan district, and talk to local people.

Residents of Ban Na Mun have protested against the planned drilling operation by Apico (Khorat) - located in the adjacent province of Kalasin but very close to their hometown.

"We will discuss concerns with the NRC team and see if there is a possibility of suspending drilling at least temporarily," Nattaporn Artharn, co-ordinator of the Ban Na Mun-Dun Sad Environmental Conservation Group, said yesterday.

Apico (Khorat) has already moved drilling equipment to the site despite strong opposition from locals. Hundreds of security officials showed up to help the firm's trucks move the equipment past protesting villagers - which stirred an outcry.

Soldiers and police joined a group of men wearing hoods and volunteers to clear the way for the drill rig to be taken to the well site.

Khon Kaen governor Kamthorn Thawornsatit insisted yesterday that it was necessary for the security to be deployed so Apico (Khorat)'s drilling equipment could get through.

He said that was to ensure no local residents got hurt from blocking the way. Apico (Khorat) had a concession to explore for oil and gas. And if the equipment did not reach the site in time or the authorities failed to help it access the site, the firm could be fined or face other action.

He noted that villagers could also face legal action, if they committed excessive acts. Fortunately, the situation did not reach that point.

"There is a movement in the site, feeding villagers with false information on impacts. Provincial authorities have informed the villagers and there is also an environmental impact assessment. If anything happens, the company will take responsibility," the governor said.

Villagers had sought to block access to the site because they believe the EIA for the project was not done properly.

Nattaporn said the firm had tried to say that it would not conduct any drilling during the next 120 days. "But we don't believe it. It had not even informed us when it was about send drilling equipment in," she said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/NRCs-Rosana-to-visit-drill-site-in-the-Northeast-30254586.html

-- The Nation 2015-02-21

[Srikcir]

Why would villagers talk to the NRC? It has no enforcement or legislative authority. The NRC is presumbly involved in long-term reforms and not immediate corrective actions which it can't take in any event.

Villagers would do better to talk to their representatives in the National Legislative Assembly. You know, the members selected and appointed by the Junta that also provided Royal Thai Army soldiers as security for passage of the oil drilling equipment through the village.

[FangFerang]

I love this no-transparency, limited action, selective enforcement, irreconcilably different government.

"Soldiers and police joined a group of men wearing hoods and volunteers"

"hooded volunteers" helping the soldiers and police acting for a private company....

Sure, this is better than all the Shins -- simply because they take smaller bites as they go

[plachon]

Are Apico drilling for conventional oil or gas reserves, or are they involved in a fracking operation? In which case, the villagers have every right to be concerned and the EIA should be scrutinised very carefully by external experts to ensure it meets international standards. There is a long history of companies in Thailand employing tame consultancies to write sub-standard EIA's that overlook obvious environmental impacts for the benefit of that operation's profit. Meanwhile state agency regulation and enforcement of environmental standards is often weak and subject to political pressure.

[Gonsalviz]

Are Apico drilling for conventional oil or gas reserves, or are they involved in a fracking operation? In which case, the villagers have every right to be concerned and the EIA should be scrutinised very carefully by external experts to ensure it meets international standards. There is a long history of companies in Thailand employing tame consultancies to write sub-standard EIA's that overlook obvious environmental impacts for the benefit of that operation's profit. Meanwhile state agency regulation and enforcement of environmental standards is often weak and subject to political pressure.

If you knew anything at all about fracking, you would hold your tongue. Instead of reading the doomsday media report, it would behoove you to check out what really happens.

[plachon]

Are Apico drilling for conventional oil or gas reserves, or are they involved in a fracking operation? In which case, the villagers have every right to be concerned and the EIA should be scrutinised very carefully by external experts to ensure it meets international standards. There is a long history of companies in Thailand employing tame consultancies to write sub-standard EIA's that overlook obvious environmental impacts for the benefit of that operation's profit. Meanwhile state agency regulation and enforcement of environmental standards is often weak and subject to political pressure.

If you knew anything at all about fracking, you would hold your tongue. Instead of reading the doomsday media report, it would behoove you to check out what really happens.

Why so aggressive in your tone? And how can you tell what my level of knowledge is about fracking and where I get my information from, based on a 4 line post? So go Gonsalviz, amaze me with your knowledge of fracking in Thailand and tell me "what really happens". I can't wait to be educated, oh wise one.