Thailand: Halted waste-to-energy operator considers lawsuit

Thailand: Halted waste-to-energy operator considers lawsuit

The operator of a waste-to-energy plant is threatening to sue the tambon Mae
Ku municipal office in Mae Sot district for suspending its operation last
month, saying it did not pollute the environment as alleged.

Naruecha Siriwat, managing director of Genius Energy Co, said on Wednesday
the municipal office ordered it to halt power generation on July 26. This
had already cost the company nearly 1 million baht in lost sales of
electricity to the Provincial Electricity Authority.

The company had also lost an opportunity to expand, because a potential
partner had subsequently withdrawn a planned 30 million baht investment in
the power plant, she said.

The Mae Ku municipal office ordered the plant to halt power generation,
improve its garbage disposal methods and develop better relations with local
residents.

Mrs Naruecha said the power plant was a closed system that was free of
pollution. Suspending its operation affected not only the company but also
the disposal of garbage from tambon Mae Ku itself.

About 100 local residents earlier demanded the municipal office terminate
its 25-year contract with Genius Energy, complaining the plant had released
polluted water, emitted an unpleasant smell and failed to dispose of garbage
for four years.

Local authorities organised a meeting with residents on Aug 10, but
representatives of the company present were not given a chance to explain.

The 100 million baht power plant started operating in January 2016 after
about five years of project preparation and construction. The plant is
designed to dispose of up to 30 tonnes of garbage a day and generate 350
kilowatts of electricity.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1307228/halted-waste-to-energy-opera
tor-considers-lawsuit

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com