Energy to set up environmental cost-appraising committee

 

After a meeting with high-ranking officials, he told reporters that the committee would have outsiders as members, potentially to include Khunying Thongtip Ratanarat, former executive director of the Petroleum Institute of Thailand. 

"The committee will start the first meeting tomorrow," he said.

On behalf of PTT Global Chemical, Pongsak also said that company would take full responsibility for the compensation associated with the oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand.

He said that there was no need for the affected to file complaints at the Administrative Court, given that PTTGC is committed to shoulder full responsibility.

All the affected - including hotels, restaurants and fishermen - are invited to file complaints with the Rayong governor.  

The meeting was aimed at strengthening the contingency plan, following the crude oil leak from the offshore oil platform of PTTGC. Some oil was washed ashore on Koh Samet, a major tourist destination.  Pongsak said that there must be a protocol when the ministry has to step in, as this could not be left entirely to the refinery and its supplier.

"We need to devise a plan how to handle an alike situation. As far as we know, the refinery and supplier have established drills, but this may not be enough. The ministry will need to strengthen the supervisory role," he said.

He added that it should take a year to restore Ao Phrao's beach to the pre-disaster condition.  

Given that PTTGC will shoulder full responsibility, he said lawsuits are unnecessary. He also said that the company has started talks with those directly and indirectly affected by the disaster and the damage estimate should be completed in a few weeks.