NHRCT Criticizes the Land Bridge Project for Lack of Public Awareness and Environmental Impact
Source: Naewna Website
Friday, September 27, 2024, 06:23
On September 26, 2024, Ms. Sayamon Kaiyurawong, a member of the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRCT), revealed that the commission had received complaints from residents and farmers in Chumphon and Ranong provinces. They requested an investigation into the Southern Economic Corridor transport infrastructure development project, also known as the Land Bridge project, which aims to connect transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The project, comprising ports, a dual-track railway, and a motorway, has been criticized for lacking public participation and potentially impacting the environment and local livelihoods.
In response, the NHRCT held a public forum from May 29-31, 2024, to gather input from government agencies, local administrations, businesses, civil society, and residents potentially affected by the project. The commission also reviewed related studies and expert opinions. Key concerns identified include:
1. Lack of comprehensive information: The process of informing the public and collecting feedback, including the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), was criticized. The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP) and other relevant agencies held separate meetings for different parts of the project, preventing the public from gaining a full understanding. The information presented was vague and did not cover related infrastructure projects, such as the precise locations of roads, railways, industrial zones, power plants, and reservoirs.
2. Environmental and social impacts: The Land Bridge project is expected to affect natural resources, wildlife, aquatic life, and traditional ways of life. The construction may lead to pollution and the movement of labor, potentially causing disease outbreaks and crime. Transportation and logistics could also be disrupted.
3. Inadequate cost-benefit analysis: Several studies found the project to be economically unfeasible when compared to its potential environmental impacts. For example, a 2016 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) concluded that Ranong is a high-priority conservation area due to its international wetlands (Ramsar sites), and Chumphon has significant agricultural potential with a relatively intact ecosystem. The project does not significantly shorten shipping routes or save fuel costs, and fees from logistics services would not cover the costs of construction and maintenance.
4. Expert concerns: Marine and economic experts expressed concerns about the project's proximity to the Andaman Sea conservation area, which is under consideration for World Heritage status. The development of ports and expanded logistics infrastructure could affect coastal ecosystems, mangroves, and local fisheries. The project might not attract significant maritime shipping away from the Malacca Strait, and the high costs of logistics could undermine its economic viability.
Land Bridge Project Meeting in Thailand Nearly Derailed by Protests
Chumphon, Thailand A meeting to discuss the proposed Land Bridge project, a major infrastructure development intended to connect the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, was almost disrupted by protests from local residents and environmental groups.
Around 300 people from the Rak Pato and Rak Ranong networks gathered at the meeting venue in Chumphon province on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, voicing their opposition to the project. They argued that the project would have detrimental effects on the environment and local communities.
The protesters raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the project's environmental impact assessment process and the potential for the project to facilitate the influx of foreign labor at the expense of local jobs. They also criticized the proposed Special Economic Zone (SEC) legislation, claiming it would grant excessive power to corporations and pave the way for industrial development that could harm the environment and displace communities.
The protesters called for the project to be halted and for the government to reconsider the SEC legislation. They presented a letter to the deputy governor of Chumphon, outlining their concerns and demanding a more thorough and transparent review of the project's potential impacts.
In response to the protest, the meeting organizers, including representatives from the Department of Highways and the consulting firm involved in the project, agreed to invalidate the meeting as an official "first briefing." They acknowledged that preliminary surveys and land demarcation had been conducted before the meeting, which they admitted was a procedural misstep. They committed to removing the land markers in November 2024 and pledged to conduct a more inclusive and transparent consultation process in the future.
Despite the concessions made by the meeting organizers, the protest highlights the significant opposition to the Land Bridge project and the broader concerns about the government's approach to economic development in southern Thailand. The controversy surrounding the project is likely to continue as the government moves forward with its plans.
Chinese giant 'China Harbor' joins the race for 'Land Bridge' project, Transport Ministry speeds up SEC bill for 2026 bidding
Source - Manager Online
Monday, December 09, 2024 07:24
The 'Land Bridge' project remains attractive. Recently, the Chinese construction giant 'China Harbor' met with Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to express their interest in investing in the project, along with the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail Phase 2 and new motorway projects. Meanwhile, 'Dubai Port World' continues discussions with the working group of the Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning (OTP). It is expected that the SEC bill will be expedited in 2026 to push for the bidding of the first phase, worth 500 billion baht.
Sources from the Ministry of Transport revealed that on December 4, 2024, representatives from China Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd. met with Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit to discuss the progress of the 'Land Bridge' project, officially known as the "Development of Transport Infrastructure for the Southern Economic Corridor to Connect Transportation between the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea (Chumphon-Ranong)". China Harbor expressed interest in investing in this project, as well as other projects promoted by the Ministry of Transport, such as the Thai-Chinese high-speed rail Phase 2 (Nakhon Ratchasima-Nong Khai section) and new motorway projects, due to their potential.
The Land Bridge project has attracted interest from major investors in many countries. Previously, Dubai Port World (DP World), a global logistics and supply chain giant, expressed interest and established a working group with the Ministry of Transport and the OTP to study the feasibility of joint investment. They have held several meetings already. In addition, there are investors from Japan, as well as China Harbor, who are interested and have set up working groups specifically to study the Land Bridge. The Ministry of Transport confirmed that it is ready to provide information to all investors and will open bidding for the Land Bridge project according to Thai regulations.
Regarding the progress of the Southern Economic Corridor Bill (SEC Bill) to drive the Land Bridge project, it is currently awaiting the Special Economic Zone Development Policy Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, to consider assigning the OTP to draft the SEC bill. Soon, there will be a meeting of the committee to expedite the bill, chaired by Somkid Chuekong, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, to discuss various issues with relevant agencies.
The timeline for the SEC bill remains on track to be enforced in September 2025. After that, the SEC Office will be established to drive the Land Bridge project. In the meantime, relevant agencies are working in parallel.
These include the OTP, which is responsible for the detailed design and Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) report for the Chumphon and Ranong piers, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has completed the detailed design and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the 1-meter gauge railway, which is now under consideration by the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning (ONEP). The design details for the 1.435-meter gauge railway will be completed in the first quarter of 2025. The Department of Highways (DOH) is studying the design and preparing the EIA report for the motorway system, expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025.
For the private sector selection process, the OTP has prepared a draft invitation for private entities. After the SEC bill comes into effect, the SEC Office will be established to prepare the Request for Proposal (RFP) documents, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2025 and finalized in the first quarter of 2026. The investor selection process will be completed in the second quarter of 2026, followed by the issuance of a Royal Decree for land expropriation in the third quarter of 2026, before submitting the project for Cabinet approval in the second quarter of 2026. It is expected that the contract can be signed and construction can begin in the third quarter of 2026. The first phase of construction is expected to be completed and operational by the end of 2030, according to the plan.
The first phase of the project has an estimated investment of 522,844.08 million baht, consisting of the construction of a deep-sea port in Chumphon (118,519.50 million baht), a deep-sea port in Ranong (141,716.02 million baht), a route connecting the two ports (195,504.00 million baht), cargo transshipment areas (60,892.56 million baht), and land expropriation and ownership transfer (6,212.00 million baht).
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