Government approves licences for nine new industrial plants

The panel screening the applications for the plants, whose operations could affect the environment and quality of life of local residents, also rejected three applications.

These three were sent back for consideration by the Department of Industrial Works, which had forwarded the 12 applications to the panel.

The ministry’s permanent secretary, Vitoon Simachokdee, said six of the approved plants are power plants, with a combined capacity of 39.5 megawatts. 

The approvals are in line with the country's economic development, which has led to rising electricity demand every year. 

    Of the six power plants, five are solar power plants and one is a biomass plant. 

The five solar plants are Solar Power (Sakon Nakorn 2), with a capacity of 7.5 megawatts and investment of Bt560 million; Siam Solar Generation, with 6 megawatts and an investment of Bt735 million; ESPP (Project 1), with 6 megawatts and an investment of Bt590 million; ESPP (Project 2), with 6 megawatts and an investment of Bt588 million; and ESPP (Project 3), with a 4-megawatt capacity and investment of Bt590 million.

The other three plants are in the bakery business, detergent production and freezer production.