Waste-to-energy plant protests in Krabi

The Baan Nai Chong preservation group are protesting a new waste-to-energy plant over the future health impact on their community.

The power plant is planned to be built at the local landfill of Krabi Municipality, which is nearby their community. The signs have been installed since yesterday (February 23) under the leadership of group president, Warrant Officer 1st Class Panya Hiran.

“The plant will be built near our community school and temple. If there’s a waste-to-energy plant here there will be health and environment impact as it requires about 400 tons of trash a day to produce any electricity, causing pollution, dust and smoke from burning the trash,” he said.

The landfill covers 251 rai of land and has been opened since 1997. It has around 600,000 tonnes of trash in the landfill and Krabi Municipality is preparing to open phase 3 of the landfill with an 80 million Baht budget to support trash from other local organisations as well – about 170 tonnes per day.

Meanwhile, Deputy Krabi Mayor, Pompetch Sukonthanit, said that the power plant is being paid for by the private sector and waiting for an approval from the Minister of Interior, then there will be a discussion about the technical details. He says there will be a public hearing to provide a voice for the people who say they are affected by the power plant. This project is expected to take two years to construct.

According to Baan Nai Chong preservation group, there have been threatening calls from a brother of a former national politician warning them not to oppose the power plant project.

The group members have already reported the threats to local police.