Rayong Metropolis ~ *

[napoleon]

600 families to be relocated

Bangkokpost Published: 12/05/2010 at 12:00 AM


Three communities located near to Map Ta Phut industrial estate should be relocated under a new town planning initiative, deputy industry permanent secretary Kosol Jairangsri says.

Under the proposal, about 600 families from Nong Fab, Map Chalood and Klong Takwan-Auo Pradu communities in Rayong province, will be moved away from the industrial zone.

Mr Kosol, who chairs a sub-committee studying town planning in Map Ta Phut, yesterday said the three communities should be relocated as they are too close to the industrial estate.

Mr Kosol's sub-committee was appointed by the four-party panel, chaired by former prime minister Anand Panyarachun.

The sub-committee's proposals on relocating the communities will be forwarded to the Public Works and Town and Country Planning Department for its consideration.

The Interior Ministry's department is currently working on a new Map Ta Phut city plan as the current plan will expire in July.

The sub-committee has also proposed each factory creates inner and outer buffer zones to reduce the impact of its operations on local communities.

The inner zone will be located within the plant's compound, while the outer zone will be created between the plant and nearby communities.

The size of the buffer zone will depend on the magnitude of the environmental and public health impact of each plant.

Heavy industries, such as coal-fired power plants, petrochemical plants and oil refineries, will be required to have larger buffer zones, he said.

[kukkii3z]

แหลมทองระยอง กำลัง renovate ใหม่ ไซด์จัมโบ้ เสร็จสิ้นปีนี้

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[kukkii3z]

เตรียมพบกับ สตาร์เซ็นเตอร์
image hosted on flickr


ศูนย์คอมพิวเตอร์สตาร์

image hosted on flickr

[kukkii3z]

the new Rayong Main Stadium

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[napoleon]

ผู้ว่าฯระยองสั่งฟันพวกสร้างบ้าน-ร้านอาหาร รุกหาดแหลมเจริญ-ป่าชายเลนหาดแสงจันทร์

วันที่ 11 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2553 เวลา 19:29:26 น. มติชนออนไลน์


เมื่อวันที่ 11 มิถุนายน พล.อ.อ.วีรวิท คงศักดิ์ ประธานคณะกรรมาธิการศึกษา ตรวจสอบเรื่องการทุจริต และเสริมสร้างธรรมาภิบาล วุฒิสภา เดินทางไปติดตามปัญหาเรื่องการบุกรุกชายหาดแหลมเจริญ-ป่าชายเลนหาดแสงจันทร์ อ.เมือง จ.ระยอง โดยเข้าสอบถามชาวบ้านที่อาศัยอยู่ชายหาดและป่าชายเลนพร้อมรับฟังข้อมูลกับนายสยุมพร ลิ่มไทย ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดระยอง


พล.อ.อ.วีรวิทกล่าวว่า ชาวบ้านที่อาศัยบริเวณดังกล่าวร้องเรียนคณะกรรมาธิการว่า ได้รับความเดือดร้อนถูกภาครัฐบีบให้ออกจากพื้นที่ โดยถูกกล่าวหาว่าเป็นผู้บุกรุก ทั้งที่อยู่มาตั้งแต่บรรพบุรุษแล้ว จึงเดินทางลงพื้นที่เพื่อรับฟังปัญหา เพื่อรวบรวมปัญหานำเข้าประชุมร่วมรัฐบาล เพื่อหาทางออกในการแก้ปัญหา


นายสยุมพรกล่าวว่า ผู้บุกรุกส่วนใหญ่ไม่เดือดร้อนเรื่องที่พักอาศัย เพราะมีที่อยู่อาศัยอยู่ที่อื่น แต่เข้ามาก่อสร้างสิ่งปลูกสร้างเพื่อผลประโยชน์ของตัวเอง เช่น สร้างที่พักอาศัย ทำร้านอาหารทะเลแปรรูป ร้านขายอาหารตามสั่ง สร้างอาคารสำหรับที่จอดรถ และเก็บอุปกรณ์ประมง ซึ่งจังหวัดต้องเข้าไปจัดการ เนื่องจากพบว่า บุกรุกเพิ่มขึ้นจำนวนมาก และพบหน่วยงานราชการที่เกี่ยวข้องปล่อยปละละเลยให้มีการบุกรุก หากปล่อยทิ้งไว้ คาดว่าพื้นที่บริเวณชายหาดและพื้นที่ป่าชายเลนบางส่วนตรงนี้จะกลายเป็นแหล่งสลัมในอนาคตแน่นอน


"จังหวัดจะพิจารณาให้ผู้ที่ได้รับความเดือดร้อน ไม่มีที่อยู่จริงๆ เท่านั้น ส่วนผู้บุกรุกอื่นๆ ไม่ยอมความเด็ดขาด โดยจะให้หน่วยงานที่เกี่ยวข้องแจ้งความดำเนินคดี"นายสยุมพรกล่าว

[napoleon]

Canadoil to invest B20bn Rayong steel plate plant to be upgraded

Bangkokpost Published: 16/06/2010 at 12:00 AM


Canadoil Group, one of the world's largest steel pipe producers, is upgrading its production in Thailand by investing about 20 billion baht to manufacture hot-rolled steel plates in Rayong.

With a maximum capacity of 1.5 million tonnes a year, Canadoil Plate Ltd (CPlate) will use Thailand as its regional hub for specialty metal plates when the factory starts operations in early 2012.

The new project, the largest investment in Thailand by the group that originated in Italy and is now headquartered in Canada, is awaiting Board of Investment (BoI) approval for its investment privileges.

The BoI and the Iron and Steel Institute of Thailand said Canadoil's new production facility would serve its internal use of hot plate and some export demand from the Middle East and Southeast Asia such as Singapore.

Located in Amata City Industrial Estate, the group's current operations include manufacturing, coating, and pre-fabricating pipe and fittings.

Canadoil's high-pressure piping systems are primarily used in the oil, gas and other energy industries for gathering, transporting and processing gas, as well as in downstream applications such as refining and power generation.

The CPlate plant will be the third facility of its kind in Thailand in addition to Sahaviriya Plate Mill and LPN Plate Mill, which have annual capacities of 1.1 million and 400,000 tonnes, respectively.

"Steel plates are the main raw material for Canadoil products, currently supplied by premium steel producers from various locations around the world," Canadoil said on its website.

The new steel plate hot-rolling mill in Thailand will strengthen Canadoil's business model by vertically integrating production of plate from steel slabs. Plates up to five metres in width will be dedicated to project-specific production to meet the most stringent requirements among Canadoil's clients, it added.

Hirunya Suchinai, senior executive investment adviser at the BoI, said Canadoil's latest investment clearly showed Thailand remains a promising investment destination despite recent political unrest. "The project is driven by the growing demand after the global economic rebound even though foreign investors have growing political concerns in Thailand," Mrs Hirunya said.

"Thailand has remained attractive in terms of skilled labour and developed infrastructure which facilitates logistics, as well imports and exports of goods. Once the political situation is stabilised, foreign investment will certainly return to Thailand."

Canadoil's global presence includes 10 manufacturing facilities and 11 sales offices in countries such as Canada, the US, Italy, Japan, Korea and Thailand.

[napoleon]

Canadoil steel mill to hike revenue five-fold Production to start at Rayong mill mid-2012

Bangkokpost Published: 18/06/2010 at 12:00 AM


Canadoil Group, the world's leading steel pipe manufacturer, expects its revenue in Thailand to increase five-fold to $1.5 billion by 2013 once the group opens its first local hot-rolled steel plate facility.


Construction of the metal and steel plate mill in Rayong will start in September with production scheduled to start in mid-2012.

The company, which originated in Italy but is now headquartered in Canada, is also considering investing another $100 million to expand capacity, after already spending $600 million for the first phase of construction of the plant, said Canadoil Group chief executive Giacomo Sozzi.

The group, which has spent $330 million in Thailand over the past 10 years, currently manufactures pipes and fittings at its center at the Amata City Industrial Estate.

The group has 12 manufacturing and fabrication facilities around the world including four in Thailand.

Last year, it reported total revenues of $519 million, double that in 2008.

"We target our total revenue in 2013, when the plate mill has operated for a full year, will increase to $2 billion, of which $1.5 billion will be generated from our global manufacturing base in Thailand," said Mr Sozzi.

The new facility will have a maximum capacity of 1.2 million tonnes a year in the first phase, with half used by the Canadoil Group and the rest going to its Japanese partners, which are the world's leading steel manufacturers.

Mr Sozzi said the company had allocated another $100 million to expand the Rayong facility by another 600,000 tonnes a year. The final decision for the expansion would likely be made at the end of 2013 or early 2014, he said.

So far, Canadoil has imported steel plates mainly from Japan and Korea.

Vertically integrating its production by investing its own facility in Thailand will significantly increase the speed of product delivery to customers.

"After looking at several potential locations in Asia, such as Vietnam, Indonesia, China, India and Malaysia, we decided to once again invest in Thailand where skilled workforce is available together with logistics facilities," Mr Sozzi said. "Our investment will give confidence to the world that Thailand is a good place to invest."

The facility will contribute 14.5 billion baht to the Thai economy during the construction in terms of local procurement and employment.

The new plant will add another 1,000 permanent jobs to Canadoil local payroll of 1,500 staff, he said.

The project, once operational, will generate income of 3 billion baht a year equal to the amount it spends on importing plates from overseas.

Of the total $600-million investment, $330 million will be credit facility including a 3-billion loan from TMB Bank, with the rest guaranteed by the UK government, said Mr Sozzi.



Canadoil Group chief executive Giacomo Sozzi stands next to a poster for the company’s new hot-rolled steel plate mill. Construction is expected to start in Rayong in September.

[napoleon]

Ford to build car plant in Rayong

Bangkokpost Published: 24/06/2010 at 11:28 AM


Ford Motors announced on Thursday that it will spend US$450 million building a car production plant in the eastern province of Rayong, reports said.

The plant would start producing the Ford Focus sedan in 2012, the car maker said.

The 750,000 square metres plant would have a production capacity of 150,000 units per year and 85 per cent of the output would be for export.

The new plant would create about 11,000 jobs for Thais.

[napoleon]

Mill Con Steel goes green

The Nation Published on June 25, 2010


Mill Con Steel Industries expects its Bt5billion greenmill project, an electronic arc furnace (EAF), to commence operations in October 2011 and improve its bottom line the following year.

Managing director Sittichai Leeswadtrakul yesterday said Mill Con started construction of the EAF three months ago after the Central Administrative Court ruled it could proceed.

The EAF will produce billets from slabs and was one of the 76 suspended projects in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estate. Mill Con has already completed an environmentalimpact assess�ment and is now conducting a healthimpact assessment.


Although it will commence operating in October 2011, there is a twomonth "learning curve", so the full benefit of the greenmill project will not be seen until 2012.


Sittichai said the company paid some Bt3 billion for the latest green technology, a vacuum degasser, to Danieli Far East. The device reduces furnace emissions.


The remaining Bt2 billion of the budget will be spent on con�struction.


Danieli Far East is an affiliate of Italy's Danieli & Co Officine Meccaniche, one of the world's largest suppliers of plants and equipment in the metal industry.


Sittichai said the EAF would bolster Mill Con's billet production, which now has a production capacity of 500,000 tonnes a year, as well as reduce operating costs.


Its gross profit margin is expected to increase to 20 per cent, from 56 per cent now.


"Last year, we generated revenue of Bt10 billion, with a gross profit margin of between Bt500 million and Bt600 million. Our revenue will increase in line with growth in the construction industry and once the EAF commences operation, our gross profit margin will much improve," he said.

[napoleon]

Danieli to invest Bt1 billion to boost capacity

The Nation Published on June 28, 2010


Danieli Far East, a leading supplier of manufacturing equipment to the metals industry, will invest about Bt1 billion in the next fiscal year (starting from next month) to increase its capacity and expand its services to serve the demand of the global steel industry and maintain double-digit growth.

The company is an affiliate of Italy's Danieli & C Officine Meccaniche, one of the top-three largest suppliers of this kind of business in the world.


CEO Boonnarg Mockmongkonkul said yesterday that next year's investment budget would be spent on revamping old machines and developing automation software in the steel industry. The investment will come from its cash flow.

Danieli Far East has so far invested about Bt7 billion in Thailand, not including the amount earmarked for its next fiscal year. Its 375-rai manufacturing plant is located in Hemaraj's Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong and its business expansion would increase Danieli's workforce to 2,500 from the current 2,400.

He said besides new steel plants being established across the world, demand from existing steel mills that are overhauling their production technology was also interesting for the company.

In order to improve its competitiveness, |the company will need to upgrade its production.

The company expects the revamping of old machines and other upgrades to take a year to complete. This means that Danieli will start benefiting from its investment by mid next year.

"This new investment and those in the near future would focus on enhancing our production efficiency in order to produce quality and value-added products for the steel industry," Boonnarg said.

The CEO added that the steel industry in countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, India and the Middle East were still strong. In fact, some countries such as the Middle East, which formerly relied on steel imports, were now developing their own steel plants.

So, the demand for machines and equipment for steel mills will only grow.

He said because of the rising demand in promising markets, Danieli's revenue could double for several years or at least grow at a double-digit rate.

The company generated Bt10 billion in the 2008 fiscal year, though revenue during the 2009 fiscal year ending this month may not be double that of last year's, though it might grow at a double-digit rate.

Danieli Far East's production capacity in Thailand stands at 40,000 tonnes per year, which might rise to a maximum of 100,000 tonnes per annum.

The firm is working hard to generate revenue over the next two years.

[napoleon]

Four-party panel completes Map Ta Phut solution

By THE NATION Published on June 29, 2010


The Federation of Thai Industries expects about 10 out of the 76 industrial projects suspended in the Map Ta Phut area to remain frozen after a list of projects harmful to the environment is implemented.


FTI chairman Payungsak Chartsutipol yesterday said the remaining projects, which were unlikely to face further suspension, would, however, have to comply with Article 67 (2) of the Constitution.


The four-party panel chaired by former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun last week announced 18 categories of projects harmful to the environment. This will make it clear to the 76 halted projects whether they have to conduct environmental- and health-impact assessments, organise related public hearings and ask for the opinion of the independent environmental committee in order to comply with Article 67 (2) of the Constitution.


The panel will soon submit the list of projects hazardous to the environment to the National Environmental Committee chaired by Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva.


A spokesman for the four-party panel, Banthoon Sethasirote, said the suspended projects could use the list of projects hazardous to the environment as evidence in applications to the Central Administrative Court to be allowed to proceed with their activities in the Map Ta Phut area.


Anand said that after seven months of effort, the four-party panel had set up all procedures for compliance with Article 67 (2) of the Constitution. These consisted of the guidelines for environmental- and health-impact assessments, the process of public hearings, and the setting up of the independent environmental committee.


The four-party panel has completed its duty and held its last meeting yesterday. However, it will continue as the coordinating committee to the independent environmental committee.


After the Act establishing the independent environmental committee becomes law, the four-party panel will finish its duty, Anand said.


The panel also outlined a city plan to solve pollution problems in the Map Ta Phut Industrial Estates. State bodies can implement the city plan immediately, he said.

[napoleon]

ศูนย์กำจัดขยะฯเมืองระยองคืบ

วันที่ 12 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2553 ปีที่ 20 ฉบับที่ 7165 ข่าวสดรายวัน


ระยอง - นายสยุมพร ลิ่มไทย ผู้ว่าราชการจังหวัดระยอง เปิดเผยถึงความคืบหน้าโครงการก่อสร้างศูนย์กำจัดขยะมูลฝอยรวมแบบครบวงจรของจังหวัดระยองว่า การดำเนินการในระยะที่ 1 คืบหน้ามากกว่า 50%ประกอบด้วย อาคารสำนักงาน อาคารซ่อมบำรุง อาคารจอดรถ อาคารเครื่องชั่ง การก่อสร้างพื้นที่กำจัดขยะ การก่อสร้างบริเวณฝังกลบ ระบบบำบัดน้ำเสีย ถนน ใช้งบประมาณ 115.70 ล้านบาทจากวงเงินทั้งโครงการ 2,000 กว่าล้านบาท

สำหรับปัญหาการคัดค้านจากราษฎรบางส่วนในพื้นที่ก่อสร้าง 4 ตำบลใน 3 อำเภอ เนื่องจากหวั่นเกรงจะมีปัญหาเรื่องกลิ่นเหม็นจากโรงกำจัดขยะ นั้นไม่น่าเป็นห่วงเพราะระบบกำจัดขยะสมัยใหม่ก็ลดข้อกังวลนี้ลงได้มาก ในขณะเดียวกันปริมาณขยะทั้งจังหวัดระยองเพิ่มขึ้นต่อเนื่องตลอดมา ประมาณ 700 ตันต่อวัน มีระบบกำจัดที่ถูกหลักสุขาภิบาลเพียง 3 แห่งคือเทศบาลนครระยอง เทศบาลเมืองมาบตาพุด และเทศบาลตำบลเมืองแกลงเท่านั้น ส่วนใหญ่จะใช้วิธีเทกองและเผาทิ้งกลางแจ้ง หรือทิ้งตามบ่อลูกรังเก่า ส่งผลกระทบต่อคุณภาพสิ่งแวดล้อม

หน้า 28

[napoleon]

New emission rules coming to Rayong

Bangkokpost Published: 3/08/2010 at 12:00 AM


Euro 4 emission standards will be adopted in Rayong starting next year in a move to control excessive air pollution, particularly in the Map Ta Phut area.The move comes one year ahead of the planned deadline for the adoption of the standard nationwide on Jan 1, 2012.

The Department of Pollution Control successfully petitioned the National Environment Board to push forward the standard in Rayong, department director-general Supat Wangwongwatana said yesterday.

Although the measure had been approved, Mr Supat said the board recommended that the department consult the Energy Ministry to ensure the private sector was ready to facilitate the policy.

Air pollution, particularly volatile organic compounds (VOCs), remains excessive in the Map Ta Phut area, the country's largest industrial zone. Rayong has been declared a pollution control zone.

"We have found that the amount of VOCs, particularly benzene and butadiene, are still beyond safe levels," Mr Supat said.

"Most come from the transport sector and petrochemical industry."

The department said benzene is considered safe at 1.7 microgrammes per cubic metre in the air, while the recommended level for butadiene is 0.33 microgrammes per cubic metre.

"The implementation of Euro 4 emission standards will dramatically reduce these emissions," he said.

The Euro 4 standard requires oil refineries to reduce benzene content in petrol to 1% by weight from the present 3.5%, and sulphur content in both petrol and diesel to 50 parts per million (ppm) from the present 350ppm.

Mr Supat said the department had also instructed private sector operators to complete their installation of vapour recovery units at their oil refineries and underground oil tanks by month's end, four months ahead of the previous schedule.

Vapour recovery units capture or recover valuable VOCs and other rich gas streams.

Rayong is among seven provinces required by the National Environment Board to have vapour recovery units installed at oil refinery plants and underground oil tanks.

Chon Buri, Ayutthaya, Songkhla, Saraburi, Samut Sakhon and Surat Thani provinces also have this requirement.

The department plans to issue a new rule requiring all chemical plants to install the units. Only the oil industry is required to do so now.

The National Environment Board also agreed to approve 71 projects worth 2.18 billion baht to eradicate pollution in Rayong, mainly in Map Ta Phut.

The first phase of the project will see the clearing of 300,000 tonnes of community garbage. The process is now under way to select a private contractor for the 270 million baht project.

Meanwhile, business operators in the area have agreed to spend over 12.97 billion baht to control pollution at their plants.

At least 80 of the 132 plants in the area have begun to implement plans to control and reduce pollution at their sites.

[napoleon]

Map Ta Phut reaches new climax

THE NATION Published on August 25, 2010


The Map Ta Phut crisis has evolved into a new climax as private companies led by PTT and Siam Cement Group (SCG) are prepared to ask for permission to resume suspended products right after the National Economic Board's list of harmful projects is imposed against renewed protests from the protesters.

Puankosoom, president and CEO of PTT Aromatics and Refining (PTTAR), who represents the group in this matter, said yesterday that the group will immediately seek the Central Administrative Court's permission to resume 24 industrial projects in Map Ta Phut immediately after the National Environment Board's list of harmful projects are published in the Royal Gazette.


"We don't know when the list would be announced, but it would be good if this could be seen in the third quarter of this year," Chainoi said.


A source from Siam Cement Group which is another industrial group suffering largely from the court's injunction is also expected to make a similar move. "We're waiting for more details."


According to the list announced by the NEB on Monday, from 25 suspended projects of PTT Group, only one involving PTT Chemical's TOC Glycol project, is subjected to the health impact assessment (HIA). SCG has not concluded yet how many projects that are classified as the harmful project to the environment.


Today, Industry Minister Chaiwuti Bannawat will hold the meeting with the operators of 76 suspended projects at the One Start One Stop Investment Centre (OSOS), the Industry's centre set to help halted projects in the Map Ta Phut, to discuss about the next step to unlock the projects from the suspension.


Tomorrow (Aug 26), the Central Administrative Court calls for the last hearing of 76 industrial projects in the Map Ta Phut.


Srisuwan Janya, president of the Stop Global Warming Association which in collaboration with 43 locals in the polluted Map Ta Phut area charged eight government agencies of negligence which led to the suspension, yesterday vowed to make the court see how much damage the industrial projects have done to locals in the Map Ta Phut.


Srisuwan also planned to tell the court that the government and government agencies are not sincere in easing the woes of Map Ta Phut residents.


In a related move, Srisuwan said he was going to ask the Administrative Court to cancel the National Environmental Board (NEB) resolution about which projects should be classified as having serious impacts on the health of people and environment.


"This is an illegitimate resolution. NEB has ignored the voice of the majority of people," Srisuwan said.


According to him, NEB resolution - if not revoked - will likely allow government agencies and entrepreneurs to avoid complying with the Section 67 of the Constitution, which has prescribed people's rights to protect their health and quality of life.


It was earlier believed that all suspended projects must complete HIA before winning the permission to resume operations. However, private companies are ready to stick by the NEB's resolution. In this case, PTT's sixth gas separation plant would not be subjected to HIA.


According to Chainoi, as the gas separation plant and other projects can resume operation within this year, the group is likely to post higher revenue than expected this year. Tevin Vongvanich, chief financial officer of PTT, recently said that if the sixth gas separation plant could not be operated this year, the company had to revise down its revenue and net profit projection for this year.

[napoleon]

Court lets 74 industrial projects off the hook

Bangkokpost Published: 2/09/2010 at 05:51 PM


The Central Administrative Court on Thursday ruled that 74 of the 76 projects originally suspended at the Map Ta Phut industrial estate can proceed with their planned expansion and operation.

The ruling upset local residents, but is likely to ease concernsabout the counry's investment regulations.

The court's ruling was made on a case filed by environmentalists and Map Ta Phut villagers, seeking the revocation of the operating permits of 76 new industrial projects for failure to comply with Section 67 of the constitution.

Section 67 requires projects with potential environmental and health impacts to make impact assessment studies, hold public hearings and consult independent agencies before going ahead.

The lawsuit led to the court's injunction to suspend the 76 projects last September.

The court later lifted the injunction on 40 projects, leaving 36 on hold.

The NEB on Aug 23 issued a list of 11 types of industrial projects it regards and harmful and must complete environmental and health impact assessments and get subsequent approval.

The 11 types of harmful projects broadly encompassed the petrochemical industry, power plants, dams and airport runway extensions.

The list was approved by the cabinet on Aug 31 in a move intended to end the Map Ta Phut enviromental impasse saga.

Senior prosecutor Banyat Visuthimak said that as a result of the court's ruling, 74 projects which are not on the list of the 11 harmful activities can resume construction and begin operation. They include the sixth gas separation plant being built by the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PTT).

However, the operating permits of two other projects were ordered revoked by the court. Their plans must be resubmitted to the National Environment Board (NEB) for reconsideration.

They are an ethylene plant operated by TOC Glycol Co and a vinyl chloride monomer project owned by Thai Plastic & Chemical Plc. TOC Glycol is a unit of PTT Chemical Plc.

If the NEB decides that the two projects must present new environment and health impact assessments, they can reapply for permits, the prosecutor said.

[napoleon]

Projects to resume operations in two weeks

THE NATION Published on September 4, 2010


Industrial projects in Map Ta Phut not categorised as activities harmful to the environment are expected to resume their operations within two weeks following the clarification of their status on Monday, the Industry Ministry said.

As the good news lifted the investment outlook, Bank of Thailand Assistant Governor Paiboon Kittisrikangwan said yesterday the Map Ta Phut ruling would be discussed at the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on October 28. This may lead to a revision in the 2010 economic forecast, which is now 6.5-7.5 per cent.


Industry vice minister Puttipong Punnakan yesterday said the ministry would convene a meeting with operators of the 76 projects in Map Ta Phut on Monday to explain the Central Administrative Court's verdict on September 2. After that, companies which believe that their projects are not in the 11 harmful activities on the list can submit the documents to the state bodies that grant their operating licences to seek approval for resuming operations.


The Office of Natural Resources and Environment Policy and Planning is ready to assist in the categorisation.


The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) and the Department of Industrial Works are the state bodies under the Industry Ministry that grant the operating licences. Puttipong said that as of now, only two projects were considered harmful. But the exact number should be known in two weeks.


"The state agencies will have to consider whether the projects submitted to their organisation qualify to be released. So, the number of the projects whose licences will be revoked may be more than just two companies. We will know within two weeks," he said.


He said that after the Central Administrative Court's verdict, many foreign investors such as from Japan had contacted the Industry Ministry seeking details. They expressed higher confidence with the clarity of rules.


Meanwhile, there will be a road show by the Industry Ministry and the Board of Investment in Japan from September 14-18. The delegation will explain the issue to Japanese investors, who comprise the biggest foreign investment group in Thailand.


"The court's verdict has made the picture for investment in Thailand clearer. This will benefit the Thai economy. When we talk with foreign investors, we now have clear answers about the legal framework on investments. As a result, it will boost foreign investors' confidence to invest in our country," he said.


Puttipong said the Industry Ministry would monitor manufacturing plants nationwide, especially those which were granted operating licences before 2007, whether their operations harm the environment.


The court's ruling, however, agitated villagers in Map Ta Phut. They will convene a meeting tomorrow to discuss the issue. Suthi Atchasai, leader of the People's Network of the East, said that this month, he would also organise a convention there. Villagers nationwide suffering from industrial development will be invited to support the proposed amendments in the National Environment Board's list of 11 harmful activities.

[napoleon]

Canadoil considers expanding ties with Sumitomo

Bangkokpost Published: 29/10/2010 at 12:00 AM


The Canadoil Group may further strengthen its business partnership with Sumitomo Metal Industries after the Japanese steel giant took part in Canadoil's new steel plate mill in Thailand by investing US$50 million in the group's holding company.

With Sumitomo's participation, Canadoil's $600-million project can secure slabs from Japan, while the new partner will support technology expertise and buy some of the finished product from the Thai plant, said Giacomo Sozzi, the chief executive of Canadoil.

Slab, a major raw material for the plant, is not available locally.

"With the strong partnership that we have, we're going to consider further potential investments together," said Mr Sozzi.

With 12 manufacturing and fabrication facilities worldwide including four in Thailand, Canadoil is among the world's largest suppliers of piping, with net sales of $520 million last year.

Injecting $50 million into a holding company that Canadoil has set up in Luxembourg to handle the Thai project has bought Sumitomo about 20% of the steel plant in Rayong.

Located in the Amata City industrial estate, the hot-rolled steel plate facility will complete construction by the end of 2012 for a production start in 2013 with annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes. The plant is projected to ramp up production to full capacity in 2013 or 2014. All output will be for export, with 300,000 to 400,000 tonnes going to Sumitomo.

The agreement comes as Sumitomo's steel plate mill in Kashima, Japan has reached maximum capacity. The company has been looking for a cost-competitive steel plant in this region to expand into specialty steel products.

"In order to respond to expected mid- to long-term growth potential, Sumitomo Metals plans to manufacture high-grade steel plates in the new mill and use the Kashima mill's capacity to manufacture more value-added, highly profitable high-grade steel plates," the Japanese company said in a statement.

"By assigning each mill a specialty in locality oriented and different product types, Sumitomo Metals will realise a more efficient manufacturing system which helps us to 'accelerate distinctiveness' in our steel plate business and raise corporate value."

Mr Sozzi said half the required capital outlay would be financed by bank loans that have already been arranged and the rest by shareholders' equity.

In a related development, Amata Corp yesterday said the sale of 569 rai in Amata City to Canadoil would be instrumental in helping it to achieve this year's sales target of 1,500 to 2,000 rai.

"Canadoil is a major Western investor that has expressed confidence in Thailand despite the domestic political situation," said Viboon Kromadit, Amata's chief operating officer.

"Despite the baht's strong appreciation, the investment climate has not been hurt. Canadoil's long-term investment plan signals rosy prospects for Thailand's investment outlook."

Amata currently has 14,000 rai of developed land available for sale.

The company has been in talks with several foreign investors including European and Japanese companies wanting to shift their investments to Asia, with Thailand a prime destination, Mr Viboon added.

[napoleon]

B3bn poured into Thai-Chinese zone

Bangkokpost Published: 11/11/2010 at 12:00 AM


Thai and Chinese investors plan to invest a combined 3 billion baht to further develop the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone and set up new projects there so that the facility can serve as a production base for expansion into Asean.


Kiat: Chinese keen to use Thailand as base
The investors yesterday signed two memoranda of understanding and two investment agreements to utilise around 500 rai in the industrial estate in Rayong province.

Kiat Sittheeamorn, president of the Thailand Trade Representative (TTR) Office, said the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone would be further developed and operated by Amata Group and Holley Group of China. It will be located in the Amata Industrial Estate.

Established in 1970, Holley Group is a multi-industry corporation under Holley Worldwide Holdings. Its core business is pharmaceuticals but the group also has presence in several industries such power metering instruments and power automation systems, wireless and wide-band telecommunication, electronic materials, real estate, agriculture, petrochemicals and mining.

Holley employs a 10,000-strong workforce worldwide, with manufacturing bases and branches in the United States, France, Russia, Argentina, India, Thailand and the Philippines.

The second project is an investment by Futong Group in the Thai-Chinese Rayong Industrial Zone. The company plans to invest US$50 million to manufacture fibre-optic cables for the telecommunication industry.

The third project involves a US$40-million investment by Hebei Lizhong Wheel Group to set up a tyre factory in the industrial zone.

The fourth agreement is between Huawei Technologies of China and United Information Highway of Thailand for a national broadband expansion project.

Mr Kiat said the moves showed China was interested in using Thailand as a base for investment for exports to Asean ahead of planned integration in 2015.

Cumulative bilateral investments of the two countries were US$1.04 billion over the past six years.

Amata shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 15.00 baht, down 40 satang, in total trade of 154.89 million baht.

[baerscrape]

hi Napoleon, thank u, very interesting. Are u based in Asia ?

[kukkii3z]

ตอนนี้แหลมทองระยองได้กำลังทำการขยายพื้นที่ใหญ่ขึ้น และอาคารจอดรถแห่งใหม่