Agency delays land reclamation research
The Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand (IEAT) has postponed a study of 3,000 rai for land reclamation near Laem Chabang seaport in Chon Buri by another month, saying there are many unfinished procedures from state authorities.
Somchint Pilouk, the IEAT’s governor, said the feasibility study was previously scheduled to finish in January, but many agencies have complex procedures that are delaying the study such as budget disbursement.
“The IEAT can still carry out the study,” she said.
The study was assigned by Industry Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit and coordinated by two state agencies, the IEAT and the Petroleum Institute of Thailand (PTIT).
The IEAT hired the PTIT to conduct the feasibility study.
Mr Suriya’s order was in response to a request from US energy multinational ExxonMobil, eyeing a 330-billion-baht investment in an ethylene cracker and refinery expansion project in Sri Racha.
The Texas-based company met Thai officials several times to outline the investment plan and ask authorities to provide support for a potential land plot next to ExxonMobil’s existing Sri Racha refinery.
ExxonMobil said land around the refinery is fully used with no room to expand.
In related news, the IEAT targets land sales for industrial estates in fiscal 2020, starting in October 2019, to increase by 58.6% to 2,183 rai, compared to the previous fiscal year’s 1,376 rai.
“The majority sale of 1,964 rai comes from the flagship Eastern Economic Corridor [EEC] scheme, while the remaining 219 rai are outside the corridor,” Ms Somchint said.
The IEAT expects to attract an investment value of 30.5 billion baht from private investors and create 5,512 new jobs from the 2020 land sales.
She said the IEAT is accelerating the third phase development of the Map Ta Phut seaport in Rayong as a part of five EEC infrastructures.
The Smart Park industrial estate in the same province is slated to begin construction by 2021.
This project is the country’s first high-tech industrial estate with a development budget of 12 billion baht.
“In 2020, the IEAT will accelerate new investment projects under the S-curve policy such as new-generation cars, petrochemicals and smart electronics,” said Ms Somchint.
‘‘ The IEAT will accelerate new projects under the S-curve policy. SOMCHINT PILOUK Governor, IEAT