South-East Asia – Page 1599

New Clean Air bill eyes transboundary haze

On: December 13, 2023

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 06:19

The Clean Air bill will be introduced next year, according to the Department of Pollution Control.

Pinsak Surasawadee, the department’s chief, said the cabinet recently approved the bill, drafted by a committee chaired by environmental academic Buntoon Srethasirote.

The bill combines points from the previous bill on clean air and highlights measures to prevent pollution from many sources.

The bill will be submitted to the Office of the Council of State, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the cabinet and parliament.

“We expect the bill to be passed into law by next year because many parties agree that clean air is an important issue. We need the law to control air pollution,” Mr Pinsak said.

A national committee on air management will be set up which will declare measures to control sources of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, or PM2.5, offer economic incentives to reduce haze pollution, and effective methods for air quality reports.

He added the bill has put more importance on transboundary haze pollution, saying that any owner of a source of haze pollution outside Thai territory is regarded as a wrongdoer inside Thai territory and must pay damages.

The ministry has been working with the Ministry of Commerce to implement a regulation banning the import of any products from Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar that could cause farm fires leading to smog or PM2.5.

Images taken from satellite technology will be another crucial tool for finding culprits. Such a practice will be implemented after the bill becomes law, Mr Pinsak said.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will encourage farmers to change from burning farm crops after harvesting to other methods, such as turning crop residue into landfill or fertiliser, under so-called Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).

He added that other measures would also help to improve the situation, including efforts to switch to electric vehicles and the use of a better quality fuel under the EURO 5 standard, to be implemented on Jan 1.

Pollution from PM2.5 is expected to peak from January to March. Most of the capital’s hotspots are caused by transport.

Meanwhile, 70% of northern provinces’ pollution is caused by forest fires. The forest authority plans to hire locals to take preventive measures against illegal burning in the forest, Mr Pinsak said.

THAI pilots green ‘SAF’ fuel

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 06:12

Thai Airways International (THAI) joined hands with PTT Oil and Retail Business Plc (OR) in piloting the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) on a flight from Phuket to Bangkok on Wednesday.

Speaking to the media about the pilot flight at Phuket International Airport, OR president and chief executive Disathat Panyarachun said the use of the SAF marks a new milestone in promoting an eco-friendly aviation business.

The first SAF flight also involved Neste, a Finland-based sustainable fuel production company; PTT International Trading Pte Ltd (PTTT); and Petco Trading Labuan Company Limited (PTLCL), a Malaysia-based retailer that transfers the fuel to Phuket.

Mr Disathat said the SAF was made from used cooking oil (UCO) that had similar chemical structures as traditional Jet A-1 aviation fuel. The SAF is the main term used by the aviation industry to describe a non-conventional (fossil-derived) aviation fuel, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

The chemical and physical characteristics of SAF are almost identical to those of conventional jet fuel and they can be safely mixed with the latter to varying degrees. They do not require the aircraft or engines to be adapted.

Relative to fossil fuels, sustainably produced, unconventional jet fuel results in a reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions across its life cycle.

‘Alien rice’ threatens local strains

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Minister outlines farming challenges

Thai rice is now under threat of losing its identity due to the popularity of alien rice strains smuggled in from neighbouring countries, according to the agriculture minister.

As a keynote speaker at an annual Thai rice conference organised by the Thai Rice Foundation Under Royal Patronage, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Thammanat Prompow said he was concerned about the future of Thai rice, saying farmers remain mired in poverty and debt despite rice generating vast amounts of revenue for the country.

He said Thailand exports eight million tonnes of rice annually, making around 140 billion baht. However, 4.68 million farmer families face huge financial burdens due to higher investment costs, including the increased price of fertilisers, pesticides, and labour.

Many farmers have switched to planting alien rice strains in the quest for higher yields, instead of domestic strains, which puts the purity of domestic strains at risk, he said. Thai rice is known for its soft texture, long-shaped grains and aromatic scent.

The alien strains are sometimes found mixed with high-quality Thai rice, which Mr Thammanat has described as “a (vicious) circle that will destroy Thai rice”.

He said the ministry will take action to deal with the problem.

“The ministry will try to ensure Thai rice continues to exist and is planted by farmers. Further investment in the development of domestic rice strains is key so we have better strains of Thai rice in the future, with a high yield and strong resistance to disease and climate change.

“The most important thing is that we maintain the clear identity of Thai rice,” he said.

At the International World Rice Conference held from Nov 28–30 in Cebu, the Philippines, Vietnam once again pipped Thailand for the title of world’s best rice.

Commenting on how the country ceded its position as the country producing the highest-quality rice in the world, Mr Thammanat said the Ministry of Commerce and the private sector decided not to enter the competition this year because the regulations were no longer considered suitable for Thai rice, as they put too much weight on high yield production as an assessment criteria.

At least this served as an important reminder that the country must adapt to global demand, he added.

Natthakit Khongthip, chief of the Department of Rice, said the department has done its job in terms of researching and developing rice strains for a better yield and that offer greater resistance to disease and weather swings.

“By next April, we will announce eight new rice strains to farmers,” he said.

Currently, the department produces 105,000 tonnes of rice seeds and distributes them to farmers, which is still far from the seed requirement of 1.3 million tonnes a year.

Most breeding seeds are from private companies and rice communities, which is around half of the annual requirement. The rest are kept by local farmers.

Meanwhile, Nipon Puapongsakorn, an agricultural expert at the Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI), said almost half of the rice plantations in the Central region use Vietnamese rice strains due to their higher crop yield of over one tonne per rai and the short harvest life of 90 days, compared to 120 days for Thai rice strains.

Farmers need short-life rice because they want to have an early harvest before the rainy season and accompanying floods.

He suggested the country should help researchers develop more domestic rice strains. Rice from Vietnam has been combined with the genes of other rice from northern Asia to produce higher yields.

“Legal amendments are important if we want to improve our rice strains to compete with others,” Mr Nipon said.

PM urges action on PM2.5

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Bangkok Yai now worst affected area

Bangkok is facing a critical surge in PM2.5, prompting urgent action from the government.

The levels of fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns in 29 out of 50 districts exceeded 35 microgrammes per cubic metre (μg/m3), indicating the air was unhealthy.

Bangkok Yai district was the worst affected with 105.1 μg/m3, followed by Thonburi (104.8μg/m3), Nong Khaem (103.7μg/m3), Khlong San (100.6μg/m3), and Bang Kho Laem (99.5μg/m3), according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda).

In an interview at the Sustainability Forum 2023 at the Bitec Bangna exhibition hall yesterday, the premier said that he was fully aware of the pollution problem and had arranged a discussion with related sectors regarding control measures.

Even though the state had kicked off its wildfire prevention campaign, he also added that pollution management is still running as the state knew about the issues being intensified.

The government plans to collect taxes from companies which import farm produce, such as corn, from farmers in Myanmar and Laos who burn their farms.

“If one company imports corn from Laos and we know they import from the farmers who set fire to their farmlands after harvesting, we will collect tax from that company. We plan to use the money to support our ‘Stop Wildfire’ project and support farmers who do not burn their farmland after harvesting,” Mr Srettha said.

Regarding the differentiation between the measures in the capital and Chiang Mai, Mr Srettha said that since plantation burning impacted pollution in the Central Region provinces, he had ordered the related officers to take care of this matter as well.

Later in the day, Mr Srettha and Pimphattra Wichaikul, Minister of Industry, investigated the pollution situation at the Ratchaprasong intersection.

The government has been working with the private sector on construction projects and any buildings in the capital that would benefit from having water sprayed on them to help reduce dust in the air, he said.

The industry minister also spoke about the farm burning situation, especially sugarcane burning which takes place before harvesting. That, too, was contributing to air pollution in the capital. The premier said he ordered authorities to prevent such burning.

“The problem of PM2.5 is not only an environmental issue, but it also affects our health and the tourism industry,” Mr Srettha said.

Road traffic is another cause of the rising levels of PM2.5 in Bangkok, he said, adding car owners should take good care of their vehicles and make sure their engines don’t billow black smoke. The government is mulling measures to encourage more use of electric vehicles, he said.

Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has worked with many agencies on pollution control, such as offering discounts on oil changes for vehicles that have been in use for over seven years. The BMA is also working with the Department of Land Transport to regularly check on fumes emitted from public buses.

“We even thought about working with barbecue restaurants in risk areas so they can have vacuum systems to mitigate small dust in the air,” Mr Chadchart said. The BMA will also tighten its pollution control measures at factories and construction sites, he added.

Gistda records on Wednesday showed that five other provinces were also contending with high levels of PM2.5. Samut Sakhon reported the highest levels of PM2.5, reaching 92.5μg/m3 yesterday, followed by Nakhon Pathom (86.2μg/m3), Rayong (83.1μg/m3), Bangkok (75.8μg/m3), Samut Prakan (75.7μg/m3) and Nonthaburi (71.9μg/m3).

Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Pol Gen Patcharawat Wongsuwon, said he had ordered the Pollution Control Department to work on tackling the causes of pollution.

Srettha heads to Japan summit

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 05:37

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin will attend the Asean-Japan Commemorative Summit from Thursday until next Monday in Japan where he will also promote EVs and the land bridge megaproject, said government spokesman Chai Wacharonke.

During the five-day visit, the prime minister will hold bilateral talks with his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio and urge Japan to take part in the economic strengthening of the region and build on efforts to reduce conflict and confrontation.

While meeting potential investors, Mr Srettha will also promote the country’s land bridge megaproject, eco-system development for the EV industry and the government’s soft power development initiative, he said.

The prime minister will highlight Thailand’s investment opportunities when meeting the Japan Business Federation, known as Keidanren, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and leading Japanese firms from the automobile, electronics, farm machinery and commerce sectors.

Accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Mr Srettha will deliver a speech at the Thailand-Japan Investment Forum organised by the boards of investments of both nations to increase bilateral investments.

Ahead of the visit, the cabinet on Tuesday approved two drafts involving a joint vision for cooperation and an action plan to see through the joint vision for Thailand, Japan and Asean.

The draft aims at promoting a comprehensive strategic partnership covering the core areas of the economy, peace and stability and cultural exchanges.

The draft action plan provides guidelines on how to pursue comprehensive strategic partnerships in those areas and sets out guidelines to assess the progress of implementation using the existing mechanisms of the Joint Cooperation Committee and Asean-Japan Forum.

The draft documents are beneficial to strengthening cooperative ties between the countries, especially in the areas of security, education, science and technology, supply chains, trade and investment and food security, observers say.

The prime minister’s delegation includes officials from the Transport Ministry and the Thai Board of Investment (BoI). During January-September this year, foreign direct investment (FDI) was worth 398,527 million baht with projects from Japanese firms worth 43,154 million baht, after China and Singapore.

NEPC ‘wants 3.99 baht cap for average-use consumers’

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 04:56

The National Energy Policy Council (NEPC) wants to cap the power tariff at the present rate of 3.99 baht per unit for households that use no more than 300 units a month, according to a source close to an NEPC meeting.

The source said two points were discussed at the NEPC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin to consider the proposed rate of 4.68 baht a unit for January to April next year.

The rate of 4.68 baht a unit, up 17.3% from the present rate, was approved by the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) on Nov 30.

The increase results from a hike in fuel costs and the need to reimburse the state-operated Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), according to the ERC.

Egat has shouldered huge losses after it subsidised electricity bills between September 2021 and May 2023, easing the impact of higher fuel prices for households and businesses.

According to the source, the first involved how to reduce the power tariff from 4.68 baht per unit to no more than 4.2 baht per unit. The meeting also asked the state-operated Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) and PTT Plc to submit information to the government for consideration to see if the power tariff could be further reduced.

The other involved a proposal to cap the electricity bill of households that use no more than 300 units per month at 3.99 baht per unit, according to the source.

This group, which is estimated to stand at 17.7 million households, accounts for 75% of electricity consumers, and a budget of 2 billion baht from the central fund will be allocated to subsidise the scheme.

However, a planned press conference on the meeting’s outcome was cancelled and reporters were told the result would be forwarded to the cabinet on Dec 19.

Government spokesman Chai Wacharonke said the proposed rate of 3.99 baht per unit by Energy Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga was welcomed at the NEPC meeting.

Mr Srettha said Mr Pirapan would submit the matter to the cabinet.

PM ‘heavy-hearted’ about 2024 prospects

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 04:46

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has admitted he felt “heavy-hearted” about the country’s economic prospects next year, describing the current state of the economy as being in a crisis.

The premier stressed the government is looking to prioritise the resumption of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union over investments in infrastructure projects to nurture the economic well-being of the country.

In an interview with Dailynews Talk 2023 on Wednesday, Mr Srettha expressed his feelings about the economy which he says is beset by crisis: “Which I think everyone is well aware of,” he said.

The prime minister added he was particularly concerned about low wages, “in addition to a raft of other problems.” Employers are resisting attempts by the government for an an increase in minimum wage rises proposed by a tripartite panel.

Mr Srettha said he believed the focus should be placed on investments in clean energy, which should be accelerated alongside the resumption of the FTA negotiations with the EU after the talks were suspended in 2014 due to the coup. “The FTA is a goal which [the government] regards as more important than the infrastructure improvements,” Mr Srettha said.

Also important, he said, is the promotion of border trade and an increase in skilled labour and trained manpower to attract foreign investments.

Turning to energy, Mr Srettha said the government is working on curbing next year’s power tariff at 4.2 baht per kilowatt-hour (unit), a plan expected to appease the industrial sector and households. The move came after the Energy Regulatory Commission on Nov 30 approved increasing the power tariff, applicable between January and April 2024, by 17.3% to 4.68 baht a unit, up from 3.99 baht a unit currently.

Still, the premier said the country should shift to more sustainable ways to manage power usage in the long term, such as adopting renewable energy.

“The government is encouraging individuals to install solar panels at home. Not only does it produce renewable energy, but the surplus electricity can also be sold,” he said.

Meanwhile, 88,954 people nationwide have registered for the government’s debt-relief programme at the end of the 12-day registration process on Wednesday. Most applicants registered online, while a smaller number did so at debt alleviation centres.

The applicants who registered have a combined debt totalling 4.8 billion baht.

The programme aims to help those owing debts to some 58,947 non-mainstream, private lenders.

PM downplays news of Dems joining govt

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 04:39

Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has brushed aside speculation of the Democrat Party joining the cabinet, saying the government is still strong with 314 MPs.

“Our government is stable and there is no need to add another party or have a cabinet reshuffle,” Mr Srettha told reporters at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) on Wednesday.

Mr Srettha refused to reply to questions about a cabinet reshuffle now that he is three months into his premiership.

Asked about the possibility the Democrats under new leader Chalermchai Sri-on might switch sides from the opposition to join the coalition, Mr Srettha said: “I will not interfere with other parties as they need to respect their own decision.”

“At present, we have a combined force of 314 MPs, which is big enough. We need to give Mr Chalermchai a chance to work and manage his party as he was appointed only 2-3 days ago,” he said.

Rumours emerged from reports that the Pheu Thai Party contacted Mr Chalermchai, then the party’s secretary-general, about meeting convicted former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra in Hong Kong in July.

Mr Chalermchai sent Dech-it Khaothong, MP for Songkhla, in response to the invitation amid speculation Thaksin agreed to add the Democrats as one of the coalition partners in exchange for the Democrats supporting Pheu Thai in government. Now the Democrats have Mr Chalermchai as leader, rumours have surfaced that the party will be part of the government.

Meanwhile, Social Development and Human Security Minister Varawut Silpa-archa, in his capacity as leader of the Chartthaipattana Party, one of the coalition parties, said the parties will eventually discuss how they should proceed. A political observer said that despite Mr Chalermchai vowing to stay in opposition, he might think again if the political situation changes.

Over 71% online reject MFP’s draft amnesty law

By: Barkar Nash

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

Offences related to Section 113 left out

PUBLISHED : 14 Dec 2023 at 04:10

The majority of people do not approve of the draft amnesty law proposed by the main opposition Move Forward Party (MFP), according to a recent online public hearing.

More than 71% of people who took part in the public hearing on the amnesty bill rejected it. Only 28% of respondents backed the bill.

Carried out by the Secretariat of the House of Representatives on its website from Nov 9 until last Saturday, the full month of hearings saw a total of 631 people registering to express their views on the MFP’s bill.

Karoonpon Tieansuwan, a list-MP and deputy spokesman for the MFP, said he was still optimistic the party’s bill would be considered in parliament alongside similar amnesty bills proposed by other parties. “Approved or not, it doesn’t make much difference,” he said.

The MFP’s version of the bill offers a sweeping amnesty to people who acted in a politically motivated manner and whose actions subsequently brought them legal charges.

The bill, however, does not cover offences related to Section 113 of the Criminal Code or state officials overreacting in their handling of political protests.

Section 113 pertains to acts of using force or threats with intent to change the constitution, overthrow the legislature, government, or judicial powers, divide the kingdom of Thailand or seize administrative power.

The amnesty in the MFP’s bill applies to related wrongdoings which occurred from Feb 11, 2006 — when the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD) began its protests against the Thaksin Shinawatra administration — up until the present time.

The same bill also proposes to set up an amnesty committee to decide what cases are eligible. The committee will comprise nine members, including the House speaker, opposition leader, judges and prosecutors.

The United Thai Nation Party, meanwhile, affirmed its stance against any attempt to include lese majeste, corruption and serious criminal offences in the bill. Party deputy spokesman Pongpol Yodmuangcharoen said the party has put forth its own version of the amnesty bill to be submitted to the House.

ICA officer at Woodlands Checkpoint dragged ‘several metres’ by car; driver arrested

By: Marcus Ching

On: December 13, 2023

In: South-East Asia

SINGAPORE: An Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) officer at the Woodlands Checkpoint instructed the driver of a car departing Singapore to follow him, but the man accelerated his car instead, dragging the officer for several metres.

The car nearly collided with a pedestrian and other nearby stationary vehicles, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and ICA said in a joint press release on Wednesday (Dec 13).

The 38-year-old Singaporean man had undergone a fuel gauge check at the departure car zone when the ICA officer noticed that his fuel tank was below the stipulated level of at least three-quarters tank full.

“The officer instructed the driver to hand over his passport, park the car, and follow him to the ICA Duty Office,” said the authorities.

The driver refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging the officer for several metres and causing him to suffer bodily pain. The officer was conveyed conscious to the hospital.

The driver will be charged in court on Thursday. If found guilty of causing hurt by a rash act, he faces a jail term of up to a year, a fine which may extend to S$5,000 (US$3,700), or both.

South-East Asia (Page 1,599)