The Industry Ministry's Department of Primary Industries and Mines (DPIM) is preparing to file lawsuits against TPI Polene Plc (TPIPL), the country's third-largest cement maker, accusing the company of running mining activities in prohibited areas and without a licence.
The ministry is demanding total damages of up to 6 billion baht.
DPIM director-general Chat Hongtiamchant said the department and the Saraburi provincial administration found TPIPL had been running mining activities in prohibited areas since 2014, when the DPIM reported the case to the police.
Nothing was resolved as TPIPL continued to operate in these areas and without a licence.
Last year the DPIM reported more cases to the police and planned to file lawsuits against the company, asking for damages.
"We are now collecting documents and other related evidence to send to the police for processing to file the lawsuits," said Mr Chat.
He said TPIPL had been running limestone mines in the areas exceeding what is allowed via the licence, including in buffer zones, normally prohibited areas that separate mining zones from communities to prevent villagers being affected by chemicals and other hazardous mining activities.
"TPIPL said there is a company running a mining business in the prohibited zone and buffer zone, but that it has noting to do with that company," said Mr Chat.
The DPIM has decided to file five lawsuits against TPIPL -- two criminal cases and three civil -- demanding 6 billion baht in damages, he said.
"I am confident we have strong evidence to win all the cases we plan to file," said Mr Chat.
Pattrapan Leopairut, TPIPL's assistant vice-president overseeing sales, said it had not been informed about the lawsuits.
"I only know what I saw in the media. We need to get back to our plant in Saraburi to see if we broke any laws and regulations before giving comment," said Ms Pattrapan.
An official at the legal department of TPIPL who asked not to be named said the company needed to gather more information from the mining site and assess the situation before discussing the matter with the DPIM.
TPIPL shares closed yesterday on the Stock Exchange of Thailand at 2.54 baht, unchanged, in trade worth 162 million baht.