Bangkok Post Oct 9, 1998 - Southern views sought on pipeline

The Bangkok Post Saturday Oct 9 1998

Southern views sought on pipeline

Scientist calls for knowledge protection

The Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT) has moved to quell growing opposition to the Malaysia-Thailand gas pipeline and separation plant project by organising a series of public hearings.

The first of the hearings is scheduled for Songkhla in mid-November and will deal mainly with the impact the multi-billion-baht projects will have on the environment of southern Thailand.

Songkhla environmental activists have raised concerns that the project would have effects similar to those created by the PTT's Yadana gas pipeline which cut across a forest area in Kanchanaburi.

PTT and Petronas. the Malaysian state oil company, will equally share the US$825 million cost of the 400-kilometre gas pipeline and a two-unit gas separation plant in Songkhla.

The projects are seen as essential for the development and exploitation of natural gas from the continental shelf in the Gulf of Thailand known as Joint Development Area (JDA), which the two countries are sponsoring.

PTT Gas president Piti Yimprasert said yesterday the public hearing would provide a forum for several parties including local communities, academics and non-governmental organisations to discuss how the environmental impact assessment of the project should proceed.

Six issues which will be dealt with at the first hearing. They include: details of the project; the current environmental study (physical, ecological resources and their benefits to humans and quality of life); optional pipeline routes and gas plant locations; and measures to prevent and rectify impact during project construction and implementation.

Dr Piti said the PTT has assigned the environmental management team of Prince of Songkhla University to conduct the environmental assessment, which is due to start at the end of this year and take one year.

Copies outlining the scope of the study can be obtained from the PTT head office in Bangkok.