1st batch of cadmium to head back to Tak

>> The return of the first batch of 270 tonnes of cadmium tailings back to their point of origin in Tak will begin tomorrow.

The Ministry of Industry has approved the moving process proposed by Bound & Beyond Plc, owner of the cadmium waste, Industry Minister Pimphattra Wichaikul said yesterday.

The first batch of cadmium and zinc tailings will be transferred from J& B Metal warehouse in Samut Sakhon and L.L.T. Metal Co Ltd in Bangkok.

Four trucks will be used to carry 80 bags — weighing a total of 120 tonnes—of the tailings from J& B Metal, while six trucks will carry 100 bags, or 150 tonnes, of the tailings from L.L.T. Metal.

Almost 12,800 tonnes of the remaining tailings will gradually be relocated from Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri to Tak until June 17.

All trucks used in transferring the tailings must be certified by the Department of Industrial Works (DLW) and will undergo a thorough check before the relocation to prevent chemical leaks.

All tailings will be kept in a temporary site arranged by Bound & Beyond Plc until disposal pit No 5 is repaired. All tailings will be buried and the pit will be sealed by Sept 30.

The temporary storage site, spanning 2,200 square metres, can accommodate up to 14,000 tonnes of tailings.

The site, to be covered with a dust sheet, was paved with a geosynthetic clay liner to prevent absorption and provided with a drainage system.

A track monitoring system was also put in place, Ms Pimphattra said.

The steering committee on the relocation of cadmium and zinc tailings has met various agencies, including DLW, the Department of Primary Industries and Mines, provincial industry offices in Samut Sakhon and Chon Buri and Bound & Beyond Plc, in the lead-up to the move to ensure everyone is on the same page.

“I have instructed all agencies to prepare procedures, routing information and a list of responsible individuals to carry out the plan and come up with a backup plan in case of emergency,” said Ms Pimphattra.

Meanwhile, Nattapol Rangsitpol, permanent secretary for industry, said the total amount of cadmium tailings found up until now is 12,948 tonnes, 8,407 tonnes of which were found in Samut Sakhon alone.

Around 4,391 tonnes were found in Chon Buri while 150 tonnes were found in Bangkok.