News
Mine expansion opposed
The Nation 05 September 2012
A public forum hosted by the Independent Commission on Environment and Health (ICEH) yesterday found that most people disagree with the expansion of operations at the Akara Mining gold mine in Phichit's Thab Khlo district.
The forum at the Phichit Plaza Hotel, detailing the company’s plans to expand its annual production capacity from 2.3 million tonnes to 5 million, was attended by about 500 people, including gold-mine operators.
Fire damages Rayong polyester factory
The Nation 24 August 2012
A fire raged through a polyester factory in Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate late Thursday night, with firefighters taking 15 minutes to control the blaze. No casualties were reported.
Residents, activists file court complaints over coal plant
The Nation 04 July 2012
Environmental activists and Map Ta Phut residents yesterday lodged a complaint against a mayor, accusing him of ignoring questionable practices at a coal processing plant despite more than five years of complaints by the community.
Residents protest at slow compensation on Sunday
The Nation 02 July 2012
Residents near Thailand's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate on Sunday submitted a letter of complaint to Rayong's governor calling for the speeding up of compensation payments following the explosion at a petrochemical factory in May.
Blast-hit firm gives Bt16.6m to nearby communities
The Nation 24 June 2012
A Bangkok Synthetics Co (BST) affiliate whose toluene plant at Rayong's Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate was hit by a fire and explosion that killed 11 people and wounded 194 others on May 5 presented Bt16.6 million assistance money for remedial measures to Rayong Governor Seni Jittakasem received the money, which will fund community-development projects, from company executives in front of community representatives.
Fund for chemical fire victims
The Nation 02 June 2012
A rubber-processing company located in Rayong's Map Ta Phut industrial estate yesterday founded a Bt10million fund for residents affected by a chemical fire at a factory last month.
'All clear' was premature
Bangkok Post 17 May 2012
A Bangkok-based NGO says people evacuated from the environs of a Rayong estate earlier this month should not have been allowed to return to their homes so quickly
Environmentalists have criticised the authorities for their handling of a recent explosion and fire at BST Elastomers Co Ltd in Map Ta Phut industrial estate and for deliberately downplaying the fact that residents of 18 nearby communities are still being exposed on a daily basis to toxic levels of a noxious substance.
Map Ta Phut residents rally for govt's assistance
The Nation 16 May 2012
A group of protesters rallied outside Government House yesterday to demand that the authorities urgently start assisting those affected by the recent factory explosion in Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong province.
Rayong locals demand accident warning system
The Nation 14 May 2012 | Pongphon Sarnsamak, Sirinart
People living near Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate in Rayong province are demanding that the government create an early warning system for chemical related accidents and are insisting that manufacturers reveal information about all chemical substances they use.
Regulations are useless if they are not enforced
The Nation 10 May 2012 | EDITORIAL
The weekend explosion at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate shows that safety concerns are still being taken too lightly by the govt and authorities.
The accident at Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate last weekend is unfortunate indeed. The explosion should have been preventable but it happened because of industries’ carelessness and lax enforcement by the responsible authorities.
