Professor Dr. Sippanondha Ketudat, Chairman of the NESDB, in his capacity as the Prachuap Khirikhan Province Power Plant Project Public Hearing Committee Chairman disclosed outcomes of the Hin Krud Power Plant Project Public Hearing meeting held during February, 24-25, 2000 at the Provincial Administration Organization, Prachuap Khirikhan Province which was attended by 800 stake-holders. The public hearing resulth can be summarized as follows:
1. Impact on environment and tourism: The opponents said that the project will cause negative impact on marine resource in both living and life-cycle through sea water pumping and temperature of the water released from the power plant. The building of 3.5 k.m. of jetty into the sea for coal transporting will cuase an impact on seashore fisheries and marine ecology. Mud and sand dredging from the sea through the process of building the wharf will destroy plankton, marine ecology and tourism scenery.
Moreover, using coal for power plant may cause environment problem and acid rain similar to that happened at the Mae Moh Power Plant area. the supporters had confidence in the official documents and environmental impact solution. They believed that the power plant will use modern technology to control environment to the standard level. Moreover, it is certain that the investors will follow guidelines of in-land and water environment conservation.
2. Social and local politics: The opponents said that in the past, the government did not use public hearing process to consider the people decision concerning the project leading to some dissent. The people have no confidence in the power plant project and environmental control scheme. They claimed that dust and waste may be dangerous to community. There was no transparency concerning land purchasing. Furthmore, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has never been reviewed for an application to the present situation.
The suppourters said that to promote confidence among people concerning the power plant project implementation, the social contract witnessed by government officers and Public Hearing Committee must be established. It is believed that the establishment of this power plant will set an example for peaceful living among firms and people in community. It will help create local organization's income in the form of tax. And the extablishment of "local development fund" to support local administration will promote local people participation in solving community problems.
3. Economic : The opponents claimed that the electricity demand has not been increased since the economic crisis. The government must requested the agencies concerned to review the power plant project and the raw materials to be utilized in the power plant in order to make certain that it will not cause pollution.
The supporters agreed that the establishment of power plant will help promote local development especially in employment and investment, and reduce EGAT financial burden. Furthermore, low investment cost for electricity generating will be of greate advantage for users in the long run.
4. Sustainability for majority : The supporters agreed that the Prachuap Khirikhan Power Plants are very important for promoting sustainability of power system in the Western and Upper Southern region where voltage and outage problems always existed. It is appropriate to utilize good quality of coal which are reserved widely throughout the world, while natural gas in siam Gulf and neighboring country will not be enough for utilization in the long term.
After the meeting for gathering and analyzing facts, suggestions, information for and against as well as screening important documents, the Committee will report the public hearing outcomes to Mr. Savit Bhothiwihok, Minister to the Prime Minister's Office for consideration further. End.
Development News Bulletin, National Economic and Social Development Board, Volume 15, No. 4 : April 2000
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