Saltworks invests Bt900m for green mining project in Korat
Play
Saltworks is investing Bt900 million in an underground salt-mine project, the first of its kind in Southeast Asia that would not be detrimental to the environment or to the safety and health of nearby residents, the company said yesterday.
Saltworks hopes to secure the necessary mining permit for the Nakhon Ratchasima project, as it is environmentally friendly and complies with all applicable mining standards and practice in terms of engineering, mining, geology and environmental preservation, it said.
A salt-scraping vehicle will replace the use of explosives and water, thus reducing shocks and vibrations in the tunnelling process, the company said.
The underground mine will cover an area of more than 600 rai (96 hectares), with a salt output of about 500,000 tonnes a year.
Salt is very important to human lives and in food preparations, and is used in a wide range of industries – foods, chemicals, petrochemicals, tap water, tanning/dyeing, refrigeration/cooling, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals – said Kittipong Putpornmongkol, managing director of Saltworks. Thailand has abundant salt supply in the Northeast.
Environmentally friendly underground salt mining has been used for around 100 years in other parts of the world, especially in Europe, he said.
After the mine has been exhausted, it could be turned into an attraction, such as a salt museum or community tourism venue, or as a respiratory-ailments clinic or for document storage for state agencies, he suggested.
Benefits to communities
Kittipong said the salt-mining project would be beneficial to neighbouring communities and the economy as a whole, and would support the establishment of the “Salt Lamps” project, as well as other projects which would create jobs for the local communities.
The company hopes to commence the mining process in about 18 months’ time, after the mining permit has been obtained.
It expects to produce 500,000 tonnes of 99-per-cent pure salt a year for domestic sale and export, for use in the food and other sectors.
The company will operate the mine for 25 years before returning the site to the local community to serve as a tourist or other attraction, said the MD.
After receiving a permit, Saltworks will employ 200 people from the local communities and establish a fund of Bt1 million for each village, as well as revenue-sharing for the tambon and provincial administration organisations of about Bt2.2 million and Bt4.4 million a year, respectively.
Furthermore, the company will allocate Bt500,000 in education scholarships for each tambon per year, Kittipong said.
The project will contribute positively to the local economy, Nakhon Ratchasima province and the country as a whole via the efforts and skills of Thais, he added.
