ส.อ.ท. ประชุมบอร์ด กพอ. อนุมัติ (ร่าง) แผนสิ่งแวดล้อมอีอีซีFTI Board Meeting Approves (Draft) Environmental Plan for EEC

On June 10, 2024, Mr. Kriangkrai Theeranukul, Chairman of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), assigned Mr. Samaun Saengwongkit, Chairman of the Eastern Industrial Council, to represent him at the 3rd meeting of the Eastern Special Development Zone Policy Committee (ESPDC) of the year 2024. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Phumitham Wechchaichai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce, alongside Mr. Chula Sukmanop, Secretary-General of the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) Policy Committee, as committee member and secretary. The meeting was held in Room 301, Command Building, Government House.

The ESPDC approved and took note of the operations in the Eastern Special Development Zone (EEC) on several important issues as follows:
1. The ESPDC approved the (draft) environmental plan for the Eastern Special Development Zone for the years 2023 – 2027 proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and instructed the Office of the Eastern Special Development Zone Policy Committee (ESDC) to present it to the Cabinet for further proceedings. This plan aims to promote environmental management in alignment with urban and community development, creating a balance among various development projects, effectively caring for the environment and communities, and supporting sustainable business investments in the EEC area. The (draft) environmental plan includes:

– Strategy 1: Waste and Environmental Pollution Management, with key strategies focusing on improving wastewater management efficiency, solid waste management, and monitoring pollution from sources and in the environment, comprising 31 projects such as the construction of a wastewater collection and treatment system in the pollution control area of Rayong Province and improving solid waste management efficiency in Klaeng District.
– Strategy 2: Conservation, Restoration, Maintenance, and Sustainable Utilization of Natural Resources, with key strategies including resource management, land usage, and sustainable water resource management, comprising 65 projects such as the conservation and restoration of the Klong Bang Phai flood retention area and the conservation and restoration of water sources with a water distribution system on Koh Sam Sarn.
– Strategy 3: Promotion of Sustainable Living and Business Operations to support eco-friendly business practices and climate change adaptation, comprising 40 projects such as the improvement of the landscape around Ban Amphoe Beach in Chonburi Province and the initiative towards Net Zero EEC to support climate-friendly investments.
– Strategy 4: Strengthening Involved Sectors to develop tools and innovations to enhance the management of natural resources and the environment, comprising 54 projects such as projects for disseminating clean production technologies for the biotechnology industry.

2. The ESPDC acknowledged the progress of the main infrastructure in the EEC, which includes significant public-private partnership (PPP) projects, as follows:
1) The high-speed train project connecting three airports is currently proceeding under the agreement between the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and private contractors, having completed the construction area handover. Negotiations have resolved the issues caused by the COVID-19 impact and the Russia-Ukraine War, and the proposal will be presented to the ESPDC for consideration and then to the Cabinet in accordance with the decision made on March 27, 2018. It is anticipated that the proposal will reach the Cabinet by July 2024, followed by the SRT and the private contractors negotiating contract revisions to present to the Attorney General's Office for review, after which it will be submitted to the ESPDC and Cabinet for approval, allowing construction to commence by December 2024.

The problem-solving principles will be based on a partnership between the public and private sectors, ensuring fairness to the contractors, protecting the state's interests, and ensuring that no undue benefits accrue to the private sector. Key principles include amendments to the payment methods where the government co-invests in the project (PIC), leading to earlier state investments based on the completion timeline, while the private sector will provide a full bank guarantee for the construction cost. Additionally, changes to the payment method for the Airport Rail Link (ARL) project have the private sector repaying in seven installments, while the SRT will still receive the full fee amounting to 10,671.09 million baht, with the private sector bearing any additional interest, fees, and financial costs.

2) The development of U-Tapao Airport and the Eastern Aviation City is progressing in the government sector, with the Royal Thai Navy having issued a tender invitation for the construction of the second runway and taxiway at U-Tapao Airport, expected to consider technical proposals by June 2024, with completion anticipated by 2028. For the electrical and chilled water systems, overall progress is at 26.32%, with the solar power plant exceeding 94.85%, aircraft fuel service systems at 47.38% completion, and water supply and wastewater treatment systems at 97.62% completion. The Notice to Proceed (NTP) to the private sector for the construction project is expected to be issued within 2024, and the U-Tapao Airport is anticipated to commence operations by 2029.

3) The development of Laem Chabang Port Phase 3, specifically Berth F, has an overall construction progress of 29.02%, with marine fill areas 1 and 2 completed, while marine fill area 3 is ongoing. The F1 berth is expected to be operational by 2027.

4) The development of Map Ta Phut Industrial Port Phase 3 has an overall progress of 80.93%, with the land reclamation of LNG Plot (Plot B) and related business space (Plot C) completed, while liquid cargo port area (Plot A) has reached a progress rate of 30.95%. The first phase of Map Ta Phut Port Phase 3 is expected to be completed by 2027.