Thailand: Activists protest Krabi power plant

Thailand: Activists protest Krabi power plant

Almost a dozen activists yesterday shaved their heads in protest over the government's coal-fired power plant project in Krabi outside Government House yesterday.

A man has his head shaved by a fellow activist in protest against a coal-fired power plant project in Krabi outside Government House yesterday. Ten activists took part in the head-shaving protest. Thiti Wannamontha

A total of 10 activists from the Network of Saving Andaman from Coal took part in the head shaving to express opposition to the 800-megawatt coal-fired power plant and a coal-powered sea port in their home province.

The protest, led by the network's key leaders Akradej Chakjunda, Prasitchai Nunuan and Wasan Sitthikhet, came after the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) announced Power Construction Corporation of China and Italian-Thai Development Plc as the winners of the power plant and sea port contracts.

The group said the projects will damage the Andaman Sea and locals' livelihoods.

According to the group's statement to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha yesterday, the actions of Egat defaulted on the agreement between Krabi residents, the group and the government in August last year.

Under the agreement, the network demanded the government stop consideration of EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and EHIA (Environmental Health Impact Assessment) reports on the project; scrap the bidding for coal-fired power plants and the sea port; and allow Krabi to try to produce 100% renewable energy for three years with the support of the government.

The government then agreed to implement the first two conditions immediately while a tripartite panel, comprising government agencies, including Egat, academics, and residents, was set up by the prime minister to study the last condition.

The activists' statement yesterday also said the panel also decided that Krabi is capable of producing up to 1,700 megawatts of renewable energy, or 10 times its electricity use.

However, the resolution was never used to devise a plan to produce renewable energy in the province as agreed by the premier.

Meanwhile, National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) spokesman Piyapong Klinpan also warned the activists to conduct their protest carefully and peacefully as the NCPO's order banning political gatherings is still in place.

Col Piyapong said the NCPO and the government has acknowledged problems about the coal-fired power plant raised by the network and were working on the issue.

He also suggested the group work with the tripartite panel to devise long-term solutions, adding if the panel was unable to address the issue, they can submit a petition to the prime minister.

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Link to Original Article: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1139053/activists-protest-krabi-power-plant

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com