Wheat fields ruined, say demonstrators who want authorities to waste licence of Bangchak-owned mine company
PUBLISHED: 28 Jan 2025 at 17: 15
Nakhon Ratchasima’s sodium mine opponents are requesting good management from the SET-listed power team Bangchak Plc, the lot owner of the mining company that holds a agreement to the site.
The Department of Primary Industries and Mines should revoke the Thai Kali Co.’s license, which is located close to the local communities, as the Dan Khun Thot Conservation Group gathered on Tuesday at the Ministry of Industry.
In the Dan Khun Thot district of the northeastern province, Thai Kali holds a 25-year concession to mine an area that extends to 9, 005 rai of land. Not far from its first site, the department last month granted it a mining license at Nong Don Pho. The new project is anticipated to have an impact on 300 homes.
Potash, a common term used for nutrient forms of the element potassium, is an important nutrient for growing plants. It is a key component of fertilisers.
Thai Kali had previously been forced to halt operations following fierce community protests, but it is now gearing up to resume operations once Bangchak becomes its majority shareholder last month.
According to Bangchak, the investment was a part of a business diversification strategy that focuses on upstream activities. The , acquisition of a 65 % holding in Thai Kali was made through Bangchak’s wholly owned subsidiary BCV Energy.
The government’s Vayupak Fund 1 is the largest shareholder of Bangchak with 19.84 %. The Ministry of Finance holds 4.76 % of the total while the Social Security Office holds 15.78 %.
According to Buaphan Srithong, a spokesperson for the Dan Khun Thot Conservation Group, high levels of salt in paddy fields have already made them unable to produce rice anymore, making potash mining by Thai Kali have had a significant impact on local people’s livelihoods.
Residents are suing for damages to the environment. A committee was established by the Department of Primary Industries and Mines to look into the matter, but no conclusions have been reached.
Residents are concerned that a new potash mining site will result in the same harms that other communities have already experienced.
Chutamas Srihatapadungkit, another protester, said she was disappointed with the response from the department so far. She thinks that once the investigative committee’s report is released, no new mining permits should be issued.
If someone has been violated, they should be eligible for rehabilitation, she said.” People have a fundamental human right to live in a good environment.
” But it seems as though our request was not taken into account when we were given the new license.” In that situation, we will continue to fight until our demands are met.
The group later relocated to Nonthaburi Provincial’s Social Security Office. Demonstrators called on the Office, as a major shareholder in Bangchak, to ensure the company follows the principles of human rights, good governance and sustainability.
They argued that Bangchak should stop investing in Thai Kali to avoid having a negative impact because it frequently boasts about its green credentials.
On Wednesday, the group plans to gather at Bangchak’s headquarters to protest against its involvement in a non-green business. Additionally, they will request an investigation into the Thai Stock Exchange.