Laem Chabang expansion edges closer

Construction of the third phase of Laem Chabang Port is expected to cost Bt140 billion.
“The study for the environmental health impact assessment (EHIA) has been completed and sent to the Environmental Impact Evaluation Bureau for approval,” Porntipa Taweenuch, the general administration division’s director of the Port Authority of Thailand, said yesterday.
 “The approval or any requests for amendments would be finished within six months. Then we can start an international bidding process to choose potential port terminal operators.”
The process for EHIAs of projects under the EEC is faster than the normal practice as the government wants to accelerate the massive investment programme in the three provinces that will host the EEC: Chon Buri, Rayong and Chachoengsao.
If the expansion is cleared to go ahead as planned, construction will begin early next year and take about five years, with a start to services targeted for 2025.
The capacity for the handling of goods shipments will increase by 7 million 20-foot equivalent units (TEUs), bringing full capacity to 18 million TEUs.
Last year the port could handle 7.7 million TEUs, close to its full capacity of 11 million TEUs.
The port currently also accommodates 1.3 million cars for shipment, while the new phase of expansion would increase that capacity to three million, Porntipa said.
The full capacity would meet an expected sharp rise in demand for goods shipments when investors produce more goods in the EEC region, she said.
The government will use international bidding for the port construction and operations. To address impact on local communities, authorities have consulted with them and will allow them to propose solutions, Porntipa added.
The Finance Ministry inspector general, Chamroen Poyod, said small fishermen or those operating small-aqua farms could co-exist with the port. Previously, an independent study raised concerns on the impact of land reclamation on coastal fishery resources.
Meanwhile, the Customs Department is speeding up Customs clearance in order to facilitate the faster export and import of goods. From March 1, importers will be able to get their goods out of the port within six hours, down from average of 38 hours, said Yutana Phoolpipat, director of the Laem Chabang Port Customs Bureau.
He said the department would introduce a pre-arrival processing system that will allow importers to inform Customs officials electronically about their good shipments 24 hours before a ship reaches the port.