Thailand: Ethanol plant partly closed after toxic emissions

Thailand: Ethanol plant partly closed after toxic emissions

An ethanol factory in Suphan Buri has been ordered to partly suspend
operations until it corrects procedures after local residents complained of
hydrogen sulfide emissions.

An Industry Ministry inspection at the plant of SET-listed Thai Agro Energy
Plc (TAE) in Dan Chang district found hydrogen sulfide levels exceeded the
allowable limit. It ordered the factory to close parts of its operation to
solve the problem by Dec 26, said Acting Sub Lt Supeepat Chongpanich, the
governor of Suphan Buri.

The investigation revealed that the poisonous gas had accumulated in a
treatment pond containing wastewater released from the plant as well as
rainwater from a severe storm on Oct 7.

The gas inflated the canvas covering the treatment pond, increasing the
pressure inside the pond to a risky level, so the company decided to release
the gas into the air and burn it, creating a foul odour that disturbed
nearby residents.

Officials said the company had installed one more pipe to remove around
3,800 cubic metres of gas per hour from the pond. It has also added chlorine
powder to the pond to eradicate microorganisms, reducing gas generation.

The company expects the disturbing gas smell will be diminished in five to
seven days.

Hydrogen sulfide is a colourless gas with a characteristic foul odour of
rotten eggs. It is heavier than air, poisonous, corrosive, flammable and
explosive

Established in October 2001, TAE received a licence to produce ethanol in
2003 and opened its first plant using molasses as raw material in 2005. The
company received an ethanol export licence in 2007 and in 2012 it opened a
second production line, bringing its capacity to 200,000 litres a day.

TAE was listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand in June 2014. In the first
nine months of this year it reported a net profit of 168.5 million baht,
compared with 215.2 million in the same period a year earlier.

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Link to Original Article:
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1145064/ethanol-plant-flagged-for-h
armful-emissions

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John Diecker
APT Consulting Group Co., Ltd.

www.aptthailand.com