Maptapud is Thailand’s largest Industrial Estate established since 1990. The estate comprises 117 industrial plants which include 45 petrochemical factories, eight coal-fired power plants, 12 chemical fertilizer factories and two oil refineries. According to the reports of Pollution Control Department and related academic studies, 20 volatile organic compounds which are carcinogenic have been detected in the air in the Maptapud areas in amounts exceeding safety levels.

TEI and TAI Thailand coalition have actively involved in Maptapud since 2007 through the research study Environmental Governance Maptapud Industrial Zone in Rayong Province. Based on the assessment of environmental governance of the Petrochemical Industrial Development Master plan (Phase III), the Pollution Reduction and Mitigation Action Plan for Rayong Province, and the Maptapud Town Plan, the study revealed that government has continuously promoted heavy and petrochemical industries in Maptapud at the expense of the environment, coastal resources and the health of its residents. This promotion obviously goes against Article 67 of Thailand’s 2007 constitution that calls for projects deemed harmful to health and the environment to pass the scrutiny of an independent body comprising health experts, environmentalists and academics before operation.

On 29 September 2009 Thailand’s Central Administrative Court issued an injunction halting construction work in 76 projects in the Maptapud area that failed to conduct an EIA. After an appeal, 11 projects were allowed to proceed when the Supreme Administrative Court deemed them environmentally harmless to their surroundings and nearby communities, whereas another 65 projects were still left with suspension. Inevitable, the government has to bear with the pressure of huge investment loss and unemployment.

Dr. Somrudee Nicro, TEI Senior Director has joined the 4-party panel formed in November 2009 to resolve the Maptapud crisis. This 18-member panel, chaired by former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, represents the government, the private sector, academics and the general public. The panel speedily deliberated the criteria to form an independent body under special regulations from the Prime Minister’s Office to regulate anti-pollution measures and cope with legal matters to ensure that health- and environment-related assessments are conducted as required by the section 67(2) of the Constitution. On 12 January 2010, the cabinet has approved a draft proposal to help establish an ad-hoc body to advise the government on the approval process of projects deemed harmful to the environment and public health. This is to provide a legislative bridge until the permanent independent health and environmental body is formed.

This latest crisis is a fresh reminder of the growing power of the civil society to influence harmful chemical-project activity as well as a valuable lesson to all investors that they have to be socially responsible and take into consideration the well-being of the people living in close proximity to the sites of their projects. Then, it would reveal the new face of Thailand’s industrial development.