A group of 43 academics has submitted a letter to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to support the construction of a controversial coal-fired power plant in Thepha district of Songkhla.
The open letter to support the project was submitted through Sompas Nilapund, deputy permanent secretary to the PM's Office.
Pinyo Meechumna, a former lecturer with Chulalongkorn University's Department of Mining and Petroleum Engineering who is representing the group said the academics had studied the project and agreed the power plant would not have a negative impact on the environment.
The academics who signed the letter include Manoon Siriwan, a renowned energy expert; Surapun Wongopasi, an academic at the Energy Research Institute at Chulalongkorn University; Sunthorn Pumjan, a lecturer at the Chulalongkorn University's Faculty of Engineering; and Manoon Masniyom, a lecturer of engineering at Prince of Songkla University.
Mr Pinyo claimed his group has explained the matter to people living in both Krabi and Songkhla provinces, and many understood and supported the project.
He said members of the public are being misguided by protesters into believing the project is too close to the sea.
However, the plant will be located nine kilometres from the shore, he added.
The project, which has been delayed for five years, will be built using modern technology adept at managing waste and heavy metals, he said.
Mr Pinyo insisted the government is not behind his group's move.
Meanwhile, about 150 protesters gathered yesterday outside Government House to protest against a draft amendment to the law on environmental protection. They plan to maintain their protest for at least a week, they said.
The so-called people's network for sustainable development said they will camp out on the pavement opposite Government House.
The group claims the amendment would facilitate both the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and the Environmental Health Impact Assessment (EHIA).